8. Presence in Modern Media
Unfortunately, the effects of the modern world have reached the Amish as well. Naturally, many people are curious about the Amish, but since they live in very closed and separated communities, they remain a mystery to the rest of the world. In 2012 the American television channel, TLC, started to air reality series about young Amish leaving their homes and exploring the world, called Breaking Amish (www.tlc.com). It turned out, that most of the cast members had left their Amish community quite some time before the TV show, and people claimed the series was scripted. Another reality show, namely the Amish Mafia, is broadcast by Discovery Networks (www.discovery.com). The show is advertized as a reality series, but on their website it is stated that some of the scenes are “re-enacted”.