This document summarizes conventions of different music genres in music videos. It discusses how rap/hip-hop videos often feature flashy displays of wealth and power through expensive items and brands. Rock music videos tend to be performance-based to convey the loud, heavy music, using dark colors, lighting and editing. Pop videos have large budgets and extravagant visuals and costumes to match their widespread popularity. R&B videos commonly focus on themes of love and passion through narrative concepts and styling the love interest. Dance videos are usually concept-based narratives without lyrics, featuring dance routines, positive vibes with bright colors and lighting.

1. CONVENTIONS OF MUSIC
GENRE’S
A2 Media Coursework

2. RAP/HIP-HOP
Rap/Hip-Hop videos revolve around showing off the artists wealth and power. This is
often executed through the use of flashy cars, expensive alcohol, jewellery and big
name brands. Also, some videos even show some of these features being wasted just
to show how rich they are that they can pay for the things and not use them, such as
the pouring out of expensive alcohol. The theme of power is usually shown through
the camera angles and surroundings. The most common shot type used in this
genre’s videos are low angle shots as it appears that the artist is looking down to the
camera and therefore the viewer both physically and metaphorically. Additionally,
women are used as a provocative object to be a sexual feature of rap/hip-hop music
videos and are sometimes placed in positions which imply that they are under the
power or influence of the artist. This music genre is often associated with money,
gangs, drugs and power. However more recently there are current rappers who take a
more conservative approach to the genre such as Drake who’s songs are usually
about love and the achievement of making it as a rapper. This shows how rap/hip-
hop is evolving and ever-changing. Rap/Hip-Hop videos are mainly concept based
with features of both performance and narrative sometimes included.

3. ROCK MUSIC
Rock music videos are often performance based. This is because the
music is usually loud, fast and heavy and has to be shown physically
to convey this idea. The costume of rock artists in their music videos
usually revolve around dark colours as it matches the tone of the
music which is often dark and ominous. The lighting is usually low
again to match with the dark tone and clothing to keep the consistent
theme. Editing is vital in rock videos as usually their will be a main
‘beat drop’ which the video producer can use to their advantage with
different variations of editing. The props used in rock music videos
are mostly the instruments used such as guitars, drums and
microphones.

4. POP
Pop videos are probably the most popular music videos. Due to this,
the editing and visuals of these are often very skilful and
complicated. Pop videos are mostly concept with a performance
theme interpreted into the video to show off the artist. Due to pop
music being as popular as they are, there is a big budget to spend on
production which is why most pop videos are so extravagant. The
costume of the artist’s in pop videos are also usually extravagant
such as artist’s like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga who exaggerate their
clothing.

5. R&B
R&B music videos often have a concept of love and passion which
usually matches the lyrics and mood of the song. The videos are
predominantly concept-based with themes of narrative as well
performance. The costumes are usually casual dress sense and the
videos aren’t really extravagant. Instead, the videos are often laid
back as this genre is with minor editing. Especially with male R&B
artists, the main focus is women as a love interest within the video
who will often be stylised as a love icon to imply that they are some
sort of goal for the artist to win by the end of the video. Due to R&B
being a genre that is full of passion, some music videos include
dance routines for the artist to further express their passion with
another technique other than the lyrics.

6. DANCE
Dance music videos usually always are concept based with themes of
a narrative based idea. This is because most songs that come under
the genre of dance music have very few lyrics or the lyrics are just a
minor support for the music. It’s clear to assume that dance videos
include dance routines in their videos which they do. As dance is such
a wide genre, it is difficult to specify a specific costume that
represents dance music videos in general. However, it is clear that
most dance videos convey a positive vibe meaning that there is high-
key lighting as well as bright colours involved, possibly including
their costume.