The Devil Wears Prada (2006) Dir. David Frankel [Feature Film] USA, 20th Century Fox.
The Devil Wears Prada is a movie about the fashion world in New York. It is also a touching and interesting story about a young woman’s first experiences with making moral and ethical decisions at work. Many points are worth being mentioned about from this film, whether it be:
- The toxic work place culture and unfair labor practices
“bad work-life balance.”
Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) is a new journalism graduate who, after carefully pursuing any and all job openings in New York publishing, has decided to try her hand as an administrative assistant to the most influential lady in the fashion industry, Miranda Priestly. Because Andy has never heard of Miranda or read Runway, she’s unprepared for the nasty world she’s entering. Miranda is a self-centered diva who demands her staff to cater to her every desire. Andy neglects her personal life as she gets increasingly preoccupied with her employer’s demands. All the people in her life are concerned by the toll the job is taking on Andy’s health and her sanity.
Even though she is being mistreated, she believes this is the best way to advance her profession. She could always leave, but she believes that she must experience pain in order to be in a better place in the future. This alteration in her personality gradually begins to impact her personal life. But, her coworkers simply encourage her to accept the harassment and swallow it. The fillm suggested a simple massage which is Don’t sacrifice your life and well-being and selfhood for a job. In the contemporary environment, today more people start to defend themselves and speak up. People acknowledge that they need to be treated properly in a workplace environment and that there are jobs out there that doesnt consume your whole life, which makes bosses more aware. On the other hand, a stressful work environment can occasionally make people stronger and improve their character.
- Identity and class division
The film explores themes such as identity and how far people would go to accomplish their goals. Andy’s persona is the same gold star, all A’s, jittery energy-filled woman we’ve seen numerous times. Her success as a determined secretary, on the other hand, establishes a bridge to the second way women succeed in a patriarchal society: by being sexually desirable and stylish.
Andy begins her journey by wearing the ugly uniform of Northwestern University’s clever folks who believe they are above fashion. However, after hearing a few rants about how important fashion is and realising that Priestly will not recognise Andy’s accomplishments as long as Andy does not respect fashion, she then puts on her Versace and Jimmy Choo shoes and works herself down to a size four to fit into her new role. This new wardobe gives her the fashion world’s seal of approval. She conducts errands for Priestly, which takes her through high society, where she meets a “genuine” writer who tries to bed the well-dressed Andy and even asks her to email him some of her writing. She seemed to have gotten the tool she needs to go into “real” journalism by letting go of her old self, who was too focused on “serious” journalism to care about small things like style.
In summary, fashion, the best way to demonstrate social class, allows her to join the fashionable, culture-making elite. Although though the story is about fashion, it still provides a glimpse into the upper middle class life. The Devil Wears Prada emphasises patriarchal beliefs and the feminine gender role’s dominance. The film encourages the audience to understand that in order for women to be successful, they must be pretty. The original Andy is excluded from a large part of feminine expression and the female realm in our society (i.e. fashion) due to her good grades and college newspaper writing . But nevertheless she can have it all because she has the same drive and focus that has brought her success in the past. And what does she get for pursuing both paths to female success? Being a member of the High society.
- The limitations of female power
(Gender Identities and the Patriarchy)
On first glance, the film shows the fashion business as being dominated by successful women. It is a film about a traditionally female society in which women work in fashion and want to be successful fashion editors/journalists. Although though the film does not necessarily criticise women’s limited roles in our society or class differences, it does make use of these truths about our culture.
Yet, as you go deeper into the film’s investigation of gender roles, stereotypes, and even the editing itself, it becomes evident that this film confirms the popular idealisation of the woman: that women must be attractive and rely on men for a societally acceptable life. It is critical to address the beliefs since this progressive comedy actually promotes reactionary morals.
The Devil Wears Prada reinforces the concept that women should not pursue job ambitions if they spend time away from important patriarchal figures such as family, friends, and lovers. This film highlights that women should prioritise friendships over jobs, that they should allow men to support them, and that men are more reasonable and less devilish bosses, as Andy’s decision to work for a male boss at the newspaper demonstrates. Finally, this film delivers the message that working women should abandon feminism and submit to patriarchy.
