Description
Book SynopsisUsing Amish Mafia as a window into the interplay between the real and the imagined, this book dissects the peculiar appeals and potential dangers of deception in reality TV and popular entertainment. When Amish Mafia was released in 2012, viewers were fascinated by the stories of this secret group of Amish and Mennonite enforcers who used threats, extortion, and violence to keep members of the Amish community in lineand to line their own pockets. While some of the stories were based loosely on actual events, the group itself was a complete fabrication. Its members were played by ex-Amish and ex-Mennonite young adults acting out scenarios concocted by the show's producers. What is most extraordinary about Amish Mafia is that, even though it was fictional, it was cleverly constructed to appear real. Discovery Channel, which aired it, assiduously maintained that it was real; whole episodes were devoted to proving that it was real; and many viewers (including smart reality TV fans) were
Table of ContentsPrologue
1. Enquiring Minds Want to Know
2. The Roots of Reality Entertainment
3. A Chronicle of Contrivance
4. The Pleasure in Being Deceived (and Its Limits)
5. Gossip and Lies
6. Rights and Wrongs
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Notes
References
Index
