Candlelight. Bonnets. Horses and buggies. We have an image of Amish communities as being frozen in time, stuck somewhere around 1850. But across America, new economic pressures are leading to bold conversations inside Amish communities about how much of the outside world to let in, leading some to interpret Amish norms more liberally than ever—going so far as to embrace the Internet and social media. In an era of smartphones, iPads and wireless electricity, what does it mean to be Amish anyway?

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Reporter/Producer
Katie Engelhart

Video journalist/Editor
Carlos P. Beltran

Motion graphics
Zachary Gibson

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NBC Left Field is a new internationallyminded video troupe that makes short, creative documentaries and features specially designed for social media and settop boxes. Our small team of cinematographers, journalists, animators and social media gurus aims to unearth stories and breathe creative life into current headlines. While pushing boundaries at home and abroad, NBC Left Field will also be serving as an experimental hub for NBC News style, treatment and audience engagement.