Derek Jarmans Visionary Arts: Exploring Land and Depth [Paperback]

Derek Jarman's place in the history of film is assured by virtue of his vibrant, defiant films that experiment with the very process of film-making and create new forms. His paintings, their excitements and their profundity, are less well known.

Michael Charlesworth sheds light on the varied ramifications of Jarman's artistic practice from his years at Prospect Cottage, Dungeness, and provides the first book-length study of his interest in depth psychology. He draws on Jarman's paintings, especially his landscapes from the 1960s and 70s, his multiple series such as 'black' and 'broken glass',GBH,QueerandEvil Queen,and his lastEcstatic Landscapes(1991-3). He also showcases Jarman's excellence as a writer with respect to his memoir,Kicking the Pricks.In a novel approach to Jarman's cinema, selecting films such asJourney to Avebury(1973),Caravaggio(1986),The Garden(1990) andBlue(1993), Charlesworth emphasizes themes and artistry rather than narrative.

Exploring the ways in which Jungian and post-Jungian psychology were absorbed into Jarman's varied works,Derek Jarman's Visionary Artsprovides a fresh perspective on his painting, film and writing. It celebrates him as one of the major British artists of the late 20th century, engaging with current debates about queer sexualities, environmentalism and climate catastrophe.

Among the great strengths of Michael Charlesworth's richly detailed and strikingly original study is the illuminating manner in which it weaves together discussion of Derek Jarman's cinema, painting, writing, landscape design, activism and other arts, exploring to great effect how each is so intimlJ