PREUZMITE DOKUMENTE

FROM QUIET FARMS TO TOURIST HUB: HOW THE FILM INDUSTRY TRANSFORMED AMISH COMMUNITIES INTO TOURIST CULTURAL AND CULINARY HOTSPOTS

Authors: Maja Šteković
DOI: 10.46793/CASB25.118S
Abstract:
This article explores how movies and books about the Amish have affected tourism in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Amish, who came to America in the 1700s to escape religious persecution in Europe, have long fascinated people with their unique way of life. Since the release of Peter Weir’s film Witness in 1985, the romanticised view of the Amish has drawn millions of tourists to their communities, especially in Lancaster County. While this influx of visitors has brought economic benefits, it has also led to the commercialization of Amish culture. As more tourists arrive, land prices have surged, forcing many Amish families to relocate and causing disruption to their traditional lifestyles. The way the film industry portrays the Amish often oversimplifies and distorts their real lives, creating a nostalgic but inaccurate image that shapes what tourists expect and experience. By combining academic research with personal observations, this article examines how these portrayals influence tourism and reflect larger cultural trends. It argues that although the Amish are seen as symbols of simplicity and authenticity, the reality of their lives is increasingly overshadowed by the commercialised image created by media and film in particular.
Keywords: movie-induced tourism, romanticising, role of the Amish, cultural and culinary tourism, filmic representations