Derek Jarman and the Smiths
The genius of Derek Jarman's artistic aesthetic
Derek Jarman directed four music videos for the Smiths: 'The Queen is Dead' , 'There is a Light that Never Goes Out', 'Ask' and 'Panic' (all in 1986).
An English artist, film maker, and writer, Jarman was the son of a Royal Air Force officer originally from New Zealand. Jarman was born in Greater London in 1942 and studied history and art history at King's College (London). This was followed by four years at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College (London), starting in 1963. Jarman was involved in the set design for Ken Russell on the films The Devils (1971) and Savage Messiah (1972). Jarman then began making experimental films himself - initially in Super 8 format. Jarman presented his first feature film in 1976 with Sebastiane. This was followed by Jubilee (1978), which was a sarcastic allusion to the crown jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II the year before. Jarman then turned to Shakespeare with The Tempest (1979) and in the erotic-themed work The Angelic Conversation (1985). With Caravaggio (1986), Jarman approached the passions depicted in the Renaissance painter's paintings and which the director re-staged. His films The Last of England (1987) and War Requiem (1989) dealt with the themes of death and destruction. Jarman's final films were Edward II (1991), Wittgenstein (1992) and Blue in 1993. Sadly, Derek Jarman was only 52 years old when he died of an AIDS-related illness in 1994.
Jarman was made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in 1990 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to film culture.
Jarman's involvement in directing music videos was not limited to the Smiths - he also directed promotional films for Marianne Faithfull, Bryan Ferry and the Pet Shop Boys - among others. Jarman's unique vision and unconventional approach to the Smiths music videos is manifest in his finished product - the bracing, visceral anger and alienation of 'The Queen is Dead'; the surreal, dreamlike atmosphere of 'There is a Light that Never Goes Out'; the subtle juxtaposition of images fading in and out throughout the Smiths performing the song 'Panic'; and lastly the upbeat, frolicsome flavor of 'Ask' - indeed, there is nothing before or since that approaches the genius of Jarman's artistic aesthetic.
"I have never liked it. I never like any videos, and I just feel that if The Smiths could just slide along, or had just slid along without ever touching this world, I would have felt incredibly proud. But I suppose, to the glazed eye, that hasn't happened. Something precious has been lost and I don't think it was worth losing it, to be quite honest."
Morrissey / Oor magazine Interview / February 1987
"Of the Derek Jarman videos, 'Panic' was definitely the best. We never actually met Jarman - he did them privately while we were in America, which was absolutely the only way we'd agree to do it."
Morrissey September 1987
'The Queen Is Dead':
'There is a light that never goes out':
'Ask':
'Panic':