R&B Conventions

R&B is a music genre that has changed dramatically throughout its time. I will be exploring how the genre has changed through the 1980’s, 1990’s and present day.

80’sThe majority of music videos in the 1980’s were largely narrative based. Also typically in videos at this time there would be extensive dance routines and close up’s. The costumes that artists traditionally wore was very formal and respectable.

90’sAs the R&B genre evolved through the years the costumes also changed. In the 90’s the artists began to wear more casual clothing. Also the music developed as well. The music had now become more emotive and therefore meant this meant the music video’s changed. The videos were now slower, largely narrative based and more emotive which meant the cinematography had more close-up shots.

00’sMore modern R&B videos have different connotations compared to the previous decades. R&B videos are now far more promiscuous than there predecessors. Most male artists that are associated with this genre are topless and most of the women in this video are wearing minimal clothing. However similarly to the 1990’s R&B videos they generally have a narrative however the focus of the narrative seems to be more on vulgarity as the videos seem to be more sexual and money and material based.