The Devil Wears Prada 2: A Eulogy for the Media's Sad Decline
The media industry is in a state of flux, and the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada captures this tumultuous moment perfectly. The original film, released in 2006, was a snapshot of the media's heyday, when magazines and legacy media ruled the world. But the sequel is a eulogy for the industry's sad decline, a biting satire that will hit close to home for anyone in media.
What makes this film particularly fascinating is its ability to capture the shift in cultural influence. In the original film, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) was the most powerful person in the fashion industry, with her role at Runway magazine effectively making her the gatekeeper of an entire sector of the economy. But in the sequel, the power dynamic is punctured early on, as Priestly is forced to grovel and negotiate a make-good after a PR crisis sparked by TikTokers and influencers that expose shoddy reporting in her magazine. This is a nod to the fact that cultural influence has shifted, and the media is no longer the unquestioned ruler of the world.
One thing that immediately stands out is the film's commentary on the digital age. The world of media has gone digital, and the sequel is all about the cuts that any working journalist knows too well today. The opening scene of the film sees a local newspaper shut down so that its corporate owner could take a tax write-down, even as he takes home a multi-million dollar payday. This is a stark reminder of the reality that many media organizations are facing today.
What many people don't realize is that the film is also a commentary on the media's relationship with wealth and power. The film is laden with cameos of mainstream and fashion-world figures, including Donatella Versace and Lady Gaga, as well as media personalities like Tina Brown, Kara Swisher, and Molly Jong-Fast. This is a clear reference to the media's symbiotic relationship with wealth and power, and the film raises questions about the role of media in society.
In my opinion, the film is a thought-provoking commentary on the media's sad decline. It is a biting satire that captures the shift in cultural influence and the digital age, and it raises important questions about the role of media in society. The film is a must-watch for anyone interested in the media industry, and it is a reminder of the importance of critical thinking and media literacy in today's world.
