Research: Breaking Music Video Conventions - Fool Like Me

This video from Cobra Starship does not follow the typical music video conventions for many reasons:

Firstly, the video is not filmed in a studio and all shots are outside, on location. (Specific locations used more than once). However, location itself isn't particularly important, because we do not know where any of the locations are, nor do we need to, they are simply walls or other surfaces to project lyrics onto. 

There is no protagonist in this video and we do not see the artist at all. There are a few extras in the video, but none are focused on and their only purpose it to walk past as seems natural considered it is shot outside on the streets. It is very unusual for music videos to show neither the artist or a main protagonist (actor). 

Because the video is purely based on the protection of lyrics, there is also no narrative (story or performance based) within the video, meaning there is also no opportunity to display dominant ideologies such as 'love conquers all' or 'good defeats evil,' however there is also no opportunity to show alternate ideologies.   

The iconography in the video is somewhat representative of the artist in the fonts used for the lyrics as well as the little pictures that appear alongside some words which seem quite quirky, also the fact that the area in the video itself is very 'different' set outside but quite young and modern in its appearance.

Media Language: The editing in the video does match the pace of the music, as the video cuts suitably between the lyrics as the song progresses. Therefore the video is obviously focused on the lyrics, but literally instead of a related story which might be expected from conventional music videos. Because there is no protagonist and the artist is not present, there are also no close ups meaning the relationship that these shots usually create with an audience is also absent. The cinematography does vary throughout the video though, providing different angles from which we see the projected words to make it more interesting. Other typical elements such the male gaze are also none existent to the lack of people in the video. 

Unlike many typical music videos, the video is completely focused on the song itself, not a story, performance or the attractiveness of the people in the video.