Breaking Reality (Evaluation Essay)
Breaking Reality Reality television has brought many different cultures and lifestyles into the limelight. TLC’s Breaking Amish has cast that light upon Amish youth and their desire to break out of their stereotypical molds. Once the young Amish decide to become “English” or break away from the Amish Church, they are usually shunned and become outcasts of society. Are these young Amish renegades promoting unhealthy lifestyles and giving the Amish Church a bad name? It can be deemed that the Amish community is indeed being negatively portrayed and that the popular reality series is staged to attract drama-loving viewers.
In September 2012, Breaking Amish premiered nationwide to approximately 3.1 million viewers (Gary, n.d.). The numbers suggest that Americans definitely took an interest in the lives of these five young adults who chose to break away from the strict Amish Church. In fact, the series boasts the largest audience for a debut on TLC in two years (Snierson, 2012). It is understandable that the Amish community would have concerns over the portrayal of their culture and how it is perceived. With many of today’s television programming aimed at the fast-paced party lifestyles of young adults, one could only hope the purity of the ex-Amish would remain untainted by such temptations. As viewers have seen, this is not the case.
The first few episodes give viewers a peek into the expectation of the Amish and how these five young adults yearn to experience life beyond the farmlands they were groomed to eventually takeover. Their dreams extend the boundaries set forth by the Church and the Elders of the Amish community. As viewers become acquainted with each cast member, they are given a glimpse into the reality that is the Amish way of life. The youth must make the heart wrenching decision between their families and their dreams to explore the world beyond. Once they leave, there is no turning back. It is either the Amish way or the
In September 2012, Breaking Amish premiered nationwide to approximately 3.1 million viewers (Gary, n.d.). The numbers suggest that Americans definitely took an interest in the lives of these five young adults who chose to break away from the strict Amish Church. In fact, the series boasts the largest audience for a debut on TLC in two years (Snierson, 2012). It is understandable that the Amish community would have concerns over the portrayal of their culture and how it is perceived. With many of today’s television programming aimed at the fast-paced party lifestyles of young adults, one could only hope the purity of the ex-Amish would remain untainted by such temptations. As viewers have seen, this is not the case.
The first few episodes give viewers a peek into the expectation of the Amish and how these five young adults yearn to experience life beyond the farmlands they were groomed to eventually takeover. Their dreams extend the boundaries set forth by the Church and the Elders of the Amish community. As viewers become acquainted with each cast member, they are given a glimpse into the reality that is the Amish way of life. The youth must make the heart wrenching decision between their families and their dreams to explore the world beyond. Once they leave, there is no turning back. It is either the Amish way or the
References: Ediger, M. (1986). The Old Order Amish--Stability in Culture. Gary, L. (n.d). MTV awards take a tumble. USA Today. Sieczkowski, C. (2012, September). Is 'Breaking Amish ' Fake? TLC Addresses Rumors That Reality Show Is Staged. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/24/is-breaking-amish-fake-tlc_n_1909476.html Snierson, D. (2012). DAN SNIERSON 'S HIT LIST. Entertainment Weekly, (1226), 16.