MASHUP







Miuccia Prada entered the family business 1978 and soon revolutionized the appearance of its products. Barack Obama is revelling in presidential power and influence unseen in Washington for decades. Madonna is clearly in charge. As her career approaches its third decade, Madonna represents the triumph of willfulness.


She has consistently pursued a very particular and unusual aesthetic. Obama already is assured a legacy at the top of all three branches of government - executive, legislative and judicial. “I rely heavily on the people that I collaborate with to inspire me.”


"The only way to do something in depth is to work hard.” “I'm at my most creative when the pressure's on.” Having firm control over the White House and Congress, Obama has the ability to push through ambitious plans.


Prada is entirely in charge of the companies creative decisions, basing her decisions on intuition. The federal government's bailout of banks and auto companies has given Obama the power to force an overhaul in those industries. Nothing holds back Madonna. Not love, not pop expectations, not tastefulness, not religion, not the laws of physics.


She is reported to be overly fussy about each detail of her design. Each product has to be changed over and over in order to come closest to Prada's initial idea. Madonna can do what she wants. “Art is about learning and about living with people. It's alive.” His job approval ratings are well over 60 percent, giving him political capital to undertake big challenges. Madonna called criticism of her adoption "shocking"


Prada is said to be the most prominent example of a new form of inward-directed luxury. "Anything she can do to get out the word that these kids need help is appreciated." "I cannot in my memory remember a time when a president of the United States has had more influence.”



1. Alastair Sooke, “Miuccia Prada Interview: Fondazione Prada,” UK Telegraph (May 2009), http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/5277507/Miuccia-Prada-interview-Fondazione-Prada-Milan.html (accessed May 12, 2009).
2. Jost Krebs, “Miuccia Prada biography,” Fashion Infomat, 18/1/2007 http://www.infomat.com/whoswho/miucciaprada.html (accessed May 12, 2009).

3. AFP News, “Obama plays comedian-in-chief,” Sydney Morning Herald (May, 2009) http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/obama-plays-comedianinchief-20090510-az1q.html (accessed May 12, 2009).


4. Steve Holland, “Obama revelling in US power unseen in decades,” Reuters, (May, 2009) http://uk.reuters.com/article/motoringAutoNews/idUKTRE5406CF20090501?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0 (accessed May 12, 2009).

5. Miranda Sawyer. “Madonna,” The Face (August, 2000), http://www.madonnacatalog.com/music/theface.htm (accessed May 12, 2009).

6. Karen Thomas, “Madonna Speaks out over Furore”, USA Today, (October, 2006),