She Works Hard For The Money

The Devil Wears Prada as a movie allowed for its viewers to take a look not only into the fashion industry, but also into their own lives. As a viewer we are able to relate to a character based on our lives; whether they are a serial killer or an elementary school teacher and because of this we discover great truths about ourselves and the public. In this blog post I chose to examine the character Miranda Priestly, played by famed actress Meryl Streep.

 

In this movie in particular, Miranda is the picture of hard work causing arrogance in success. Her character, in my opinion, reveals that there is in fact a distinct hierarchy in the work field, specifically the fashion industry. Miranda is introduced in the movie as a cold hearted bitch. In her presence, everyone must basically bow and kiss her feet and everything she asks for must be done when and how she likes it. Incompetence and inability to complete tasks given by Miranda result in  replacement or put downs. An example of this in the movie is a scene where Miranda expresses her disgust in the girls putting on a "run- through" due to them being unprepared, she then turns her attention to, assistant Andy who chuckles because she doesn't realize there are different types of blues and Miranda embarrasses her in front of her colleagues. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LVptO7o4L8) All in all, we as viewers are exposed to Miranda's arrogant powerful nature.

Furthermore, in the work field hierarchy Miranda is top dog; because she is the editor of Runway, what she says goes and all those who work for her must worship her and succumb to her every wish. This reveals to the viewers that those in the highest power at their jobs have the ability to do whatever they wish. On a broader spectrum, it pushes those apart of the public sphere to want to be successful and be top dog in their line of work so they have the ability to do as they wish. Although some, may not abuse their power, as I would say Miranda did, many will find comfort in knowing that they have the greatest deal of power.

In sum, the movie The Devil Wears Prada, specifically through character Miranda Priestly suggests that audience members are shown that they must participate in the public by becoming successful in their line of work in order to maintain power.

For the Money & the Fame Or For the Love & the Pain

The protagonist of The Devil Wears Prada, Andy begins her journey as famed Runway editor Miranda Pristley's assistant as the underdog. She has no interest in fashion and no knowledge of the magazine, yet she tries her best to fit in. She finds herself having to complete these rigorous, almost impossible tasks to please her boss. Soon enough she learns she must take  her job more seriously; for example, dressing how her colleagues dress, slimming down, basically altering her appearance. In an effort to take her job more seriously, Andy loses everything that has any importance to her. She puts aside her dreams of becoming a journalist, she loses her closest friends and her fiancee.She notices her life is in shambles and seeks guidance from colleague/ friend Nigel who explains to her that her social life falling apart is only due to success in her job or as he says it "it's time for a promotion."

Taking a deeper look in to this situation we see that ultimately Andy's success in her job at Runway was due solely to the fact that she changed her appearance and her social life began to deteriorate. What does this say about the viewers who try to achieve the dream of becoming successful in the fashion industry or any of their jobs for that matter? It shows that we must change ourselves! We must be who our jobs require us to and disregard our social lives to have success in our area of work. Also we find in order to succeed in our jobs we lose our sense of sanity and happiness, but that doesn't matter because we would be doing well at work and exceeding above all others.

Pointing this out we must now ask ourselves is our ultimate goal to fulfill our obligations of work or keep ourselves happy? We must find which is most important to us. In the movie, we see that Andy at first makes her job have more value than her social life i.e her friends, family and fiancee. But then as the movie progresses more towards the end Andy is exposed to the "reality" of Runway and decides that she had it all wrong. She finds that what was most important was her social life and right before it all slips through her hands she caught it. She took her life back because she realized that it was all more important than fame and glamour.

Here we find that it is a part of the American dream to be successful in your field of work, even if it isn't what you initially wanted it to be. But in that you must decide if you want your life or success in your job.

You Are Who You Are

     The movie, The Devil Wears Prada is full of ideologies; more specifically the ideology of the fashion industry. The fashion industry has deemed itself to be mostly concerned with appearance, whereas every woman must be attractive and fit into a size "0". In this movie, the protagonist Andy does not fit the ideal image of a fashionista which conflicted with her new job as Miranda Priestly's assistant. Following her interview Andy learns that Miranda may not hire her due to her non- existent fashion sense and her unawareness of the magazine, although Miranda does hires her for  being unlike her traditional employees.
     Andy is unlike the traditional female. She doesn't find that she must put too much effort into her appearance or conform to the stereotype of the other females, she calls "the clackers". She is a journalist with no interest in fashion or being the ideal size "0". Her only interest in a job at the magazine is to boost her career as a journalist. She is constantly criticized for her frumpy sweaters and loafers. Surrounded by skinny girls in designer clothes Andy soon feels that she is the underdog, especially since she's is the "new girl".
      Most of the audience, including myself would wish that Andy kept her non- conformist like ways, but instead she decides in order to do well in her job she must dress and act like her fellow colleagues. Her conformity only follows the female ideology of the fashion industry and is eventually her downfall. Although Andy does move up in her job at Runway, her social life goes up into flames. She loses not only her fiancee but her very best friends as well.
     In all, this story teaches us if we follow the roles that society creates for us instead of being ourselves it will ultimately turn out to for the worst. Like Andy many of us struggle with becoming what we're not in order to please others, but instead of being like Andy we should remain true to what feels right for us and in turn we will be successful.