The Devil’s Playground: an Analysis

So, I watched this documentary called “The Devil’s Playground,” directed by Lucy Walker. It gives a pretty deep look into the lives of Amish teens during their rumspringa. That’s a time when they’re allowed to check out the world outside their community before deciding if they wanna stick around for good. This whole tradition is super interesting ’cause it shows the push and pull between old-school ways and modern life, as well as how community and personal choices clash.

I’ll dive into some themes from the documentary, using some solid research and expert opinions.

Tradition vs. Modern Life

One big theme in “The Devil’s Playground” is the clash between tradition and modern life. The Amish folks live a simple, farm-based life and stay away from modern gadgets and tech. This isn’t just how they live; it’s tied to their religious beliefs. According to some experts, like Kraybill, Johnson-Weiner, and Nolt in their book “The Amish” (2013), the Amish think their way of living keeps them pure and separate from the rest of the world. Rumspringa is a huge break from this norm, letting young Amish try out modern life in ways they never could before.

The effects of this are kinda mixed. On one side, the lure of modern stuff, freedom, and consumer culture is pretty strong. Walker’s documentary shows many Amish teens driving cars, using phones, and even trying out drugs and alcohol. This leads to a lot of inner conflict and confusion, as seen in the stories of people in the film. Take Faron Yoder, for example. He struggles with addiction but ends up going back to the Amish way of life, showing just how tricky this balancing act can be.

But then, a lot of these teens go back to being Amish after rumspringa. Like, 80-90% of them get baptized and stay in the community (Kraybill et al., 2013). This shows how strong family ties, community, and religious beliefs are in pulling them back.

Community vs. Individuality

Another big thing in the documentary is the struggle between community and personal choices. The Amish community is all about helping each other, shared responsibilities, and sticking together. You can see this in stuff like barn raisings and their religious practices. But rumspringa brings in a whole new level of personal choice, which isn’t a big thing in Amish life usually.

During rumspringa, these teens face tough choices that will shape their future. This personal journey is full of challenges, as they try to balance what they want with what their community expects. The film captures this struggle really well. For instance, Velda Bontrager talks about wanting personal freedom but also being scared of losing her family and community if she doesn’t go back.

This tension has big social implications. According to Durkheim’s theory of social integration, strong community ties are crucial for individual well-being and societal stability (Durkheim, 1897). The high return rate to the Amish community after rumspringa shows how these communal bonds provide security and identity. But it also makes you wonder how much real personal freedom is possible in such a close-knit group.

Bigger Picture

The themes in “The Devil’s Playground” go beyond just the Amish and touch on bigger societal issues. The documentary makes you think about choice, freedom, and how societal norms shape what we do. In today’s world, where being an individual is often praised, the Amish practice of rumspringa offers a different view that highlights the value of community and tradition.

The film also brings up important questions about religious commitment and how people decide to accept or reject the beliefs they grew up with. Rumspringa can be seen as a kind of religious test, where the authenticity of one’s faith is tested by exposure to different ways of living. This idea fits with Weber’s notion of the “routinization of charisma,” which talks about how religious movements keep followers committed over time (Weber, 1922).

In the end, “The Devil’s Playground” gives a detailed and thought-provoking look at the Amish practice of rumspringa. By focusing on themes like tradition vs. modern life, community vs. individuality, and the broader societal implications, the documentary offers valuable insights into human behavior and social norms. The experiences of the Amish teens in the film remind us of the ongoing tension between personal freedom and community obligations, a dynamic that affects societies everywhere.

In this analysis, we used reliable sources and expert opinions to back up our points, showing the complexity of these issues. By carefully examining the documentary and its broader context, we get a better understanding of how tradition, modern life, community, and individuality intersect in the lives of the Amish and, in a way, in our own lives too.

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