Spike Jonze is known for directing music videos that parody or reference other genres and use stylistic techniques to relate to the song. Some of the techniques he uses include slow motion to build tension ("Oh So Quiet"), title cards and editing to mimic TV genres ("Sabotage"), setting and costumes to emulate time periods ("Buddy Holly"), and contrasting settings to reflect song themes ("The Suburbs"). While his style generally involves these intertextual references, the video for "Only One" takes a more personal approach focused on the artist themselves.

1. DIRECTOR
CASE
STUDY
SPIKE JONZE

2. BJORK-OH SO QUIET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htobTBlCvUU
In this video, Jonze has made It
so as if Bjork is in a musical.
One of the opening close-ups
show Bjork through tyres, giving
an almost comical beginning of
the video.
Although, at the beginning
Jonze has contrasted this
with low-key lighting and a
grim exterior, he could
have done this to
exaggerate the music as it
speeds up as Bjork leaves
the room.

3. OH SO QUIET
The editing at the beginning of the song is in slow motion as
she leaves the first room and starts to walk outside, the song
is still slow at this point, as the song speeds up the slow
motion stops. The slow motion is to build the tension and
relates to the song title of ‘oh so quiet’.
The mise-en-scene such as
dancers and colourful surrounding
go with the musical like parody that
Jonze creates.

4. BEASTIE BOYS-
SABOTAGE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rRZdiu1UE
In the opening of this
video, there is quick
pans of sky scraper,
introducing the setting,
like the beginning of a
TV drama.
This shot shows the
main character to be
running into darkness,
with the back lit.
suggesting that he is
going into danger which
fits with the TV drama
theme.

5. SABOTAGE
The name of the song Is shown in the
video, this is used to get the feel of the
spoof crime drama, as Jonze has
used similar editing techniques. The
background also shows the setting,
which they did in crime dramas.
The mise-en-scene sets the
scene nicely. The use of
sunglasses, the cop badge and
outfit suggest that the character is
a undercover policeman, fitting
with the 70’s cop show parody.
The title of the song relating to the
visual, also similar to Bjork’s ‘oh
so quiet’ as the are both
parodying something.

6. WEEZER-BUDDY
HOLLY
This opening mid-shot show
the video to be in a 50’s style,
parodying popular aspects of
the time period such as the
programme ‘happy days’ and
buddy holly, as the song is
called.
The lighting in this video is
very high-key, giving it a
happy feel, which fits with
the genre but is also
contrasted by the genre of
music of the band.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemivU
Kb4f4

7. BUDDY HOLLY There is a short pause in the
middle of the video where it says
‘stay tuned for happy days’, this
is to parody the show. sabotage
and oh so quiet also do
something similar. Jonze likes to
use inter-textuality in his videos,
this is one of the things that
make him an auteur director.
The mise-en-scene, such as the
matching fashion, fits with the time
period the video is set in and is similar to
buddy holly, who they are parodying. the
audiences outfits are also 50’s style,
fitting the theme. The video matched the
song title as the are mimicking buddy
holly.

8. ARCADE FIRE-THE
SUBURBS
In this long shot, the
characters are introduced.
The setting is in the suburbs,
fitting with the title of the
song.
The lighting goes from high-
key to low-key as serious
things start to happen, in
this case its is the military in
the suburbs, so the setting is
not as calm as it first looks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Euj9f3
gdyM

9. THE SUBURBS In part of the video
,there are blurred shots
and a shaky to makes
the character seem
disorientated ad
confused as to the
situation he is in.
The mise-en-scene in the video
contrasts from bikes to
helicopters. The military aspect
contrasts with the suburban side,
Jonze also used a contrast in
Bjork's video as she goes from a
dim, dirty room, to a bright setting.

10. KANYE WEST-ONLY
ONE
This video is different from a typical spike Jonze. This is
more about the artist and its quite personal. This video
almost looks home made.
This video shows that Jonze has a wide range of skills, as he
can use similar themes, but also completely contrasting ones
if he wishes. Although, this video does relate to the song title
as it is about his daughter being the ‘only one’. So, overall,
Jonze doesn’t like to stray too far from the actual meaning of
the song as it is the music that matters rather than the actual
image of the artist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WibQR
0tQ0P8