The document explores how the genre of R&B music has changed over time through its music videos from the 1980s to present day. It notes that in the 1980s, videos featured large dance routines and formal costumes, while in the 1990s, videos became more emotive and narrative-based with casual clothing and close-up shots as the music evolved. Modern R&B videos are described as more promiscuous and focusing on narratives of vulgarity, sexuality, money and materialism compared to previous decades.

1. 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.

2. 80’s
The majority of music videos in the 1980’s were largely performance 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 fairly formal and
respectable.

3. 90’s
As 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.

4. 00’s
More 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.