American Colony: Meet the Hutterites

Unlocking the doors to a rarely seen world, National Geographic’s American Colony: Meet the Hutterites takes us deep into the heart of a secluded, self-sufficient community living a lifestyle that harkens back to bygone times. Premiering in 2012, this American reality television series focuses on the daily lives of members of the King Colony in Montana, a collective of Hutterite individuals who live, work, and worship together arranged within family and communal contexts. The Hutterites, for those unaware, are a faith group that stemmed from the same Radical Reformation that gave birth to other Anabaptist groups like the Amish and Mennonites.

The series gives audience an unfiltered look inside the Hutterite community, opting to provide an authentic depiction of their culture and traditions rather than glamorizing or sensationalizing their way of life. The intent is to shed light on the often-misunderstood Hutterite people, who continue to live their lives steeped in tradition despite the rapid changes of the surrounding modern world.

Throughout the show, viewers are taken on a fascinating journey that offers penetrating insights into the Hutterite colony's social dynamics and structures, as well as their religious beliefs and practices. The Hutterite culture is unique in its dedication to community living, with shared ownership of property and a communal economy that largely revolves around farming and manufacturing.

The focus is on several families within the King Colony, whose lives are intimately chronicled in the series, painting a multifaceted picture of the Hutterite community. It details their daily routines, social obligations, and lifestyle choices, displaying everything from the traditional dress they wear to the customary meals they share. It also gives a glimpse into the education system, the place of children and youth in the society, and the challenges of the intergenerational shifting of values between elders and youth.

The documentary-style reality show sparks intrigue by drawing attention to the intersection between traditional values and the creeping influence of the modern world. Questions of tradition versus innovation, individualism versus communal life, and faith versus worldly influence echo throughout the episodes, underscoring the dilemmas the Hutterites face in trying to maintain their way of life.

One of the key attractions of the show is its candidness. The cameras follow the members as they go about their daily activities, including cooking, farming, going to school, and attending religious services. The footage they capture presents an honest and thought-provoking narrative of the Hutterite people, showcasing their struggles along with their joys.

While the show was filmed back in 2012, the conflicts and challenges faced by the Hutterites are relatable universally and timeless, making the series relevant even years after its original release. The questions the show raises about the preservation of cultural identity, the success or failure of communal living, and the struggles of maintaining traditional beliefs in the face of societal pressure are all rooted in larger societal topics engaged by many cultures around the world.

Stories of some individual characters are particularly poignant. The young people in the community are shown grappling with the pull between the outside world and their traditions and heritage. This discourse exposes the viewers to the complexities of these tensions, providing a different, more personal perspective.

But the series also has its light-hearted moments. The Hutterites' warm community spirit and united sense of humor shine through in every-day moments, bringing balance to this unique show. Their close ties with each other, built upon shared faith and communal lifestyle, indeed make the Hutterites a family in the deepest sense of the word.

In conclusion, American Colony: Meet the Hutterites is a groundbreaking television series that provides viewers with an in-depth, unprecedented glimpse into the Hutterite way of life. Through a combination of captivating storytelling and immersive cinematography, National Geographic provides not just entertainment, but an education on a lifestyle that many may not have had the chance to explore or understand previously. The show resonates both as an anthropological study and an engaging reality TV, forging a human connection between the Hutterites and viewers worldwide.