In the film, The Devil’s Playground, a group of Amish kids are experiencing what the world is like outside the culture of being Amish. These kids are undergoing all the different activities to do that regular “English” kids get to experience on a day to day basis. Each day, an Amish kid of age will go out into the real world and experience what other kids do. According to the Amish, this is called, “rumspringa.” When an Amish teen of 16, he or she will be able to go out into the real world to take on other endeavors, or they will be able to stay with the Amish church and live the rest of their lives as an Amish church member. The sociological concepts behind what the Amish kids experience in the real world are quite interesting as well. There
…show more content…
When Amish kids reach the age of 16, they go on an enlightenment journey, going outside the Amish church and being in normal society for however long they choose. This phenomenon is rumspringa. () Rumspringa is a time out from being Amish. A time to go explore and to see what else the world has to offer, whether that be good or bad things. (Stachtman) Now, this may seem like an experience for these youngsters to go out and do. However, this spectacle may come to be a culture shock for most of these adolescences. Culture shock is the bewildered experience that an individual may have when he/she is abruptly exposed to unexperienced culture. (Stachtman) Since these kids haven’t been introduced to anything of the “English” world, they may experience a culture shock. Furthermore, because the teens are not used to everything in the regular world, they can experience everything that most others do. They can experience technology, cars, and other appliances. Although, even though these teenagers will experience the good things in society, they can also experience parties, drugs, and alcohol. This is what the film, The Devil’s Playground, was all about in a sense. While the teens are in the term of rumspringa, they must make a choice as well. They should choose whether to go back and be a part of the Amish Church, or they can stay in the “English” culture. (Stachtman) So, wrapping up, these Amish kids experienced numerous sociological concepts behind what is means to be in the Amish church and the journey of teenagers called
When Amish kids reach the age of 16, they go on an enlightenment journey, going outside the Amish church and being in normal society for however long they choose. This phenomenon is rumspringa. () Rumspringa is a time out from being Amish. A time to go explore and to see what else the world has to offer, whether that be good or bad things. (Stachtman) Now, this may seem like an experience for these youngsters to go out and do. However, this spectacle may come to be a culture shock for most of these adolescences. Culture shock is the bewildered experience that an individual may have when he/she is abruptly exposed to unexperienced culture. (Stachtman) Since these kids haven’t been introduced to anything of the “English” world, they may experience a culture shock. Furthermore, because the teens are not used to everything in the regular world, they can experience everything that most others do. They can experience technology, cars, and other appliances. Although, even though these teenagers will experience the good things in society, they can also experience parties, drugs, and alcohol. This is what the film, The Devil’s Playground, was all about in a sense. While the teens are in the term of rumspringa, they must make a choice as well. They should choose whether to go back and be a part of the Amish Church, or they can stay in the “English” culture. (Stachtman) So, wrapping up, these Amish kids experienced numerous sociological concepts behind what is means to be in the Amish church and the journey of teenagers called