Jennifer Richards

Recent research publications include articles on aesthetics, performance and the body within film and visual culture. Her current work explores the emergence of Gothic modes within Fashion from street style to haute couture.

Jennifer’s work explores a wide range of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary practices. She interrogates the idea of the meta discourse, language, ritual, identity and the body.

Richards, J (2020) ‘The Influence of the (Gothic) Genre in High Fashion’ in C Bloom C (ed) The Palgrave Handbook of Contemporary Gothic Palgrave p1063-1073.

This book provides a comprehensive exploration of every aspect of contemporary gothic culture between 1918 and 2019, from its origins in film to the impact of Internet memes in the twenty-first century.

Creates space for new discussion of overlooked or forgotten writers, designers, architects, painters, poets and film makers

Brings together an ambitious and interdisciplinary collection of essays which inform, complicate and expand upon existing studies of the gothic.

Publications

Richards, J (2018) ‘Transcending the Traditional: Fashion as Performance’ in F Carlotto & McCreesh N (ed) Engaging with Fashion, Brill, p249-275

Richards, J (2017) ‘#Coven: Season of the Witch’ Fashion Studies Journal

Conferences/Talks

Richards, J (2019) ‘A Call to Arms: Rick Owens’ Babel Collection’ Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester

Richards, J (2018) ‘Fashion, Body and Performance’ Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London

Armstrong, L, Griffiths, A & Richards, J (2017) Forme Journal @ looseyarmstrong @rabear

Richards, J (2016) ‘Subcultures in the 21st Century’ Reflected Shadows Conference, Kingston University, London

Richards, J (2015) ‘Analogue to Digital: Fashion Film’ Global Dialogues Conference, Coventry University London

Richards, J (2015) ‘Trope of Fools: Fashion Image-Making’ International Textual Fashion Conference, University of Brighton

Exhibitions

(2017) ‘Plosives’ Griffiths, A & Richards, J Digital gallery exploring the concepts of time, space and the culture of the transient screen. Housed within a 'nonspace' at Manchester School of Art.

https://ra-bear.com/transient_space

(2017) Co-Convenor, Blake, L, Darby H & Richards J, Gothic Manchester Festival V: Gothic Style(s)

2017’s Festival was full of such delights, offering everything from body-beautiful horror in The Neon Demon to real North West street style in a catwalk devoted to extraordinary goths and steampunks. As usual, our thrilling series of events centred on a one-day conference of accessible papers delivered by an egalitarian mix of students, seasoned academics, experts and enthusiasts.

https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/english/gothic-studies/gothic-manchester-festival/2017/