Work to upload onto blog

1. Contemporary
R&B
T h i s g e n r e o f m u s i c i s a m i x o f r h y t h m a n d
b l u e s w i t h e l e m e n t s o f p o p , s o u l , h i p h o p
a n d e l e c t r o n i c m u s i c

2. Codes and
Convetions to
look out for
with
definitions
Mise en Scene-This refers to what is put in the scene.
E.g., make-up, probs, costume etc.
Lighting- This refers to how the light has been used
throughout the video.
Shot types- This is the term that expresses how the
camera has been used to present the video. E.g.,
close-up shot.
Editing Techniques- This refers to the way a video is
edited /finished. E.g., structural editing, fine copy
edit etc.
Camera Angles and Movement- This is the term the
shows how the camera was used. E.g., on a tripod,
pan or tilt etc.
Representation- This is how the media
represents /portrays different groups or ideas.
Narritave- This is the term that describes the aim to
tell a story through the video.

3. Mise en Scene
G i r l s N e e d L o v e - A g r o u p o f g i r l s a t a r o l l e r
s k a t e p a r k . C l o t h i n g i s v e r y s m a l l a n d
c o l o u r f u l . M a k e u p i s v e r y h e a v y ( f a k e
e y e l a s h e s e t c . )
O n e , T w o S t e p - M e n d r e s s e d i n b a g g y
c l o t h i n g o u t s i d e ( h a t s . ) W o m e n i n a d a n c e
r o o m w i t h s m a l l t o p s a n d t r o u s e r s . M a k e - u p
v e r y h e a v y a n d l o t s o f g o l d j e w e l r y .
F o o l i s h - S e t i n a l u x u r y r e s t a u r a n t . S m a r t
c l o t h i n g a n d h e a v y m a k e - u p . P e o p l e a r o u n d
d r e s s e d s m a r t t o o .
L e t M e L o v e Y o u - M e n d r e s s e d i n b a g g y
c l o t h i n g i n a h o u s e t h e n o n t h e s t r e e t n e a r
g r a f f i t i . M a k e - u p h e a v y w i t h h o o p e d e a r r i n g s
a n d s m a l l t o p s w i t h t r o u s e r s . C h a i n s e t c .
S o S i c k - M a k e - u p h e a v y a n d g l o s s y w i t h
s m a l l c l o t h i n g o n . M a n i n b a g g y c l o t h i n g i n a
h o m e w i t h b i g w i n d o w s t h a t l o o k o u t o n t o t h e
m o u n t a i n s . L u x u r y c o a t w i t h f u r .
D i l e m m a - P e o p l e o u t o n b i k e s e t c o n t h e
s t r e e t s i n b a g g y c l o t h i n g . M a k e - u p h e a v y
w i t h b i g e a r i n g s a n d s m a l l t o p . M e n w e a r i n g
l a r g e c h a i n s a n d h a t s w i t h t r a i n e r s o u t s i d e
w i t h a s t e r o .
S a y M y N a m e - D i f f e r e n t s c e n e s d e p e n d i n g o n
c o l o u r . M a k e - u p h e a v y a n d l a r g e e a r i n g ’ s a n d
n e c k l a c e s . M e n i n b a g g y c l o t h i n g . L o t s o f
h o u s e l i k e p r o p s .
Girls Need Love by Summer Walker
One, Two Step by Ciara
Foolish by Ashanti
Let Me Love You by Mario
So Sick by New-
Yo
Dilemma by Nelly
Say My Name by Density’s
Child

4. Overview of Mise en Scene in R&B
Men- In R&B music videos men are normally presented in oversized clothing with
trainers and caps, the casual look. Jeans are worn low with long tops are baggy jackets
with caps normally facing backwards, to look “cool”. Very chunky chains are normally
worn, and tattoos are shown to show masculinity.
Female- Very minimal clothing to be seen as the male desire. Makeup is bold to again
appeal to men but to also show power due to dark colours used. Jewellery is big to
suggest they are wealthy.
Props and Setting- Not too many props as the main-focus is the singer. If there are
props it is to show the narrative. Location is normally a basic setting like the street to
compliment their clothing.

5. Lighting
G i r l s N e e d L o v e - V e r y c o l o u r f u l a n d f u n
l i g h t i n g i s u s e d i n t h e r o l l o e r s k a t i n g s c e n e s .
A l s o , s t r e e t l i g h t i n g i t u s e d t o s h o w h e
s t r e e t s e t t i n g . G e l s u s e d
O n e , T w o S t e p - L i g h t h i n g i s v e r y d a r k w i t h
b r i g h t l i g h t s o n d a n c e r . N a t u r a l l i g h t i n g f r o m
t h e e n v i r o n m e n t . P r a c t i c a l l i g h t i n g .
F o o l i s h - B e g i n s w i t h a v e r y d a r k s u r r o u n d i n g
w i t h s p o t - l i g h t s i n t o t h e c a r t o s h o w t h e
n a r r a t i o n o f t h e t w o p e o p l e . F o l l o w s w i t h
l u c k y b r i g h t l i g h t s i n t h e r e s t a u r a n t .
L e t M e L o v e Y o u - B r i g h t w h i t e l i g h t i n g t o
l i s t e n t o t h e . N a r r a t i o n . W h i t e l i g h t i n g w h e n
h e i s d a n c i n g s o s h o w h i s e m o t i o n s . N a t u r a l
s t r e e t l i g h t i n g w h e n t a l k i n g t o t h e g i r l . K e y
l i g h t i n g
S o S i c k - V e r y w h i t e l i g h t i n g f r o m t h e s u n a n d
s n o w t o s h o w p u r i t y . F l a s h i n g s t r e e t l i g h t i n g
f o r p o l i c e c a r s .
D i l e m m a - S t r e e t l i g h t i n g t o s h o w t h e s e t t i n g .
B r i g h t / s p o t - l i g h t s o n m a j o r n a r r a t i v e . K e y
l i g h t i n g . A v a i l a b l e l i g h t .
S a y m y N a m e - D u e t o t h e i r b e i n g d i f f e r e n t
c o l o u r e d r o o m s t o b e g i n t h e l i g h t i n g i s v e r y
n e u t r a l t o f o c u s o n t h e s i n g e r s .
Girls Need Love by
Summer Walker
One, Two
Step by Ciara
Foolish by Ashanti
Let Me Love
You by Mario
So Sick
by Ne-Yo
Dilemma by Nelly
Say My
Name by
Density's
Child

6. Overview of Lighting in R&B
Lighting is used in music videos to convey different moods and meaning. There are different types of lighting including:
• Key lighting- brightest source of light placed on the side of the camera pointing at the scene.
• Full light lighting - a secondary light source to balance out key lighting and change the level of shadow.
There are also different techniques including:
• Gels- coloured sheets fitted into lights for new colours.
• Backlighting- lighting position behind the subject.
• Silhouette- a solid shadow due to backlit and no other lighting.
• Shadows- key lights behind objects.
• Practical lighting - Lighting already present.
• Available light- natural light.
In R&B music videos available light from the sun and street -lights is used the most as this night really shows the
location and setting used. Key lighting is necessary to convey the narratives as it would draw an audience in due to it
being so bright. Gels will also be used to show the fun and colourful side to the songs e.g., in Girls Need Love.

7. Shot types
G i r l s N e e d L o v e - W e a r e s t a r t e d o f f w i t h a l o n g
s h o t t o s h o w u s t h e s e t t i n g i n t h e r o l l e r s t a k e
p l a c e , g i v e s a s h o t o f t h e p e o p l e i n t h e v i d e o .
T h e r e i s a l s o m a n y c l o s e - u p s o f t h e a r t i s t t o
s h o w h e r m a k e u p a n d e m o t i o n s ,
O n e , T w o S t e p - M a n y e x t r e m e c l o s e - u p s o f s i n g e r
t o s h o w m a k e - u p a n d e m o t i o n t o w a r d s t h e s o n g .
L o t s o f m e d i u m s h o t s i n o r d e r t o s h o w t h e m i s e
e n s c e n e a n d t h e c h o r o g r a p h y .
F o o l i s h - T o b e g i n c l o s e - u p s h o t s t o s h o w t h e
m e n ’ s n a r r a t i o n . M e d i u m s h o t i n t h e r e s t a u r a n t
t o s h o w t h e l o c a t i o n a n d p e o p l e a r o u n d . L o t s o f
e x t r e m e c l o s e - u p s o n t h e w o m e n t o s h o w a r e
a n g e r t o w a r d s t h e m a n .
L e t M e L o v e Y o u - A m e d i u m s h o t t o b e g i n t o s h o w
t h e m i s e e n s c e n e o f t h e t h r e e m e n . F o l l o w e d b y
a c l o s e - u p s h o t o f w h e n h e i s b o x i n g . M a n y
m e d i u m s h o t s w h e n t h e y a r e d a n c i n g t o s h o w t h e
m o v e m e n t a n d c l o t h i n g .
S o S i c k - T o b e g i n a n e x t r e m e c l o s e - u p o f t h e
a r t i s t t o s h o w t h a t h e i s i n d e p t h o u g h t . L o t s o f
e x t r e m e l o n g s h o t s t o s h o w t h e l o c a t i o n
( m o u n t a i n s . )
D i l e m m a - L o n g s h o t t o b e g i n t o s h o w t h e l o c a t i o n
o f t h e s t r e e t . E x t r e m e c l o s e - u p s t o s h o w t h e
g a m e o f c a r d s ( p r o p s . )
S a y m y N a m e - C l o s e - u p s a n d m e d i u m s h o t s u s e d
t h o u g h o u t t o s h o w t h e a r t i s t s e m o t i o n s a n d t h e
m i s e e n s c e n e o f t h e v i d e o s .
Girls Need
Love by
Summer
Walker
One, Two Step
by Ciara
Foolish by
Ashanti
Let Me Love You
by Mario
So Sick
by Ne-Yo
Dilemma by Nelly
Say My
Name by
Destiny’s
Child

8. Overview of Shot Types in R&B
There are many different shot types in order to express different values of the video. They include:
• Close up- It is taken within a close range. It is tightly shot and covers most of the screen. This is used
in R&B to show the artists emotion and to draw the audience attention to that shot.
• Extreme close-up- Filled with a face or a large-scale prop. Again, used to show emotion.
• Medium shot- At a medium distance therefore gives a solid view. This is used to show body language,
clothing etc.
• Long shot- Shows a full length of the scene and is used to show location and props.
• Extreme close-away- The view is so far from the probs or artist. This is used to show the scale of the
scene and used to show the whole setting and more.
In R&B music videos close-up and medium shots are used the most as it shows both emotion and clothing
to show desire towards, the artist.

9. Editing Techniques
G i r l s N e e d L o v e - B e g i n w i t h a c u t t o t h e f i r s t s c e n e f o l l o w e d b y
a f a c e d e d i t t o e a c h d i f f e r e n t g i r l s k a t i n g ( f o c u s i n g o n d i f f e r e n t
a r e a s . ) A l s o j u m p c u t e d i t s a r e u s e d f r o m p e r s o n t o p e r s o n
w h i c h g e t s t h e r e a d e r t o k e e p w a t c h i n g a s i t s h o w t h e d i f f e r e n t
m i s e e n s c e n e t h o u g h o u t .
O n e , T w o S t e p - B e g i n s w i t h m a n y j u m p c u t s h o t s b e t w e e n
d i f f e r e n t p e o p l e i n t h e v i d e o t o s h o w c l o t h i n g l o c a t i o n e t c .
T h e r e i s a p a r t w e r e t h e r e i s m a n y j u m p c u t s h o t s b e t w e e n t h e
s i n g e r a n d a s p e a k e r . F a d e i n e d i t s o f t h e w o m e n .
F o o l i s h - F a d e i n t o t h e v i d e o s t a r t i n g w i t h t w o m e n t a l k i n g .
J u m p s c u t s b e t w e e n t h e m e n i n c o n v e r s a t i o n .
L e t M e L o v e Y o u - F a d e i n s p l i t e d i t t o b e g i n u s i n t o t h e m u s i c
v i d e o f o l l o w e d b y a f a d e i n i n t o t h e m e n n a r r a t i n g . L o t s o f b l a c k
s c r e e n s e d i t s t o s w i t c h b e t w e e n s c e n e s .
S o S i c k - M a n y f a d e i n e d i t s f r o m p e o p l e t o l o c a t i o n t o s h o w t h e
c o n n e c t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e t w o ( s h o w t h e g e n r e . ) T h r o u g h o u t t h e
v i d e o t h e p h o t o s o f t h e s n o w y m o u n t a i n s a p p e a r i n t h e
b a c k g r o u n d o f t h e v i d e o .
D i l e m m a - F a d e i n t o t h e l o c a t i o n t o b e g i n f o l l o w e d b y m a n y j u m p
c u t s f r o m p e r s o n , p r o p a n d l o c a t i o n t o e m p h a s i z e e a c h .
S a y m y N a m e - J u m p s c u t s f r o m e a c h d i f f e r e n t s c e n e t o s h o w t h a t
t h e r e i s a c l e a r d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e m a l l .
Girls Need Love by
Summer Walker
One,
Two
Step by
Ciara
Foolish by Ashanti
Let Me Love You
by Mario
So Sick by
Ne-Yo
Dilemma by
Nelly Say My
Name by
Destiny’s
Child

10. Overview of Editing Techniques in R&B
There are many different editing techniques throughout a music video. These include:
• Cut- a transition where one shot is instantly followed by another.
• Continuity editing-visual editing where shots are cut together in a linear flow.
• Cross cutting- technique used to give the illusion that two story lines of action are happening at the same time by cutting
back and forth between them.
• Dissolve - when the end of one shot overlaps the start of the next one to create a gradual scene transition.
• Fade- a visual effect to indicate change.
• J cuts- allows the audience to first hear audio from a shoot and then see it.
• Jump cut- an abrupt cut that creates a lack of contin ui ty between shots leaving out parts of the action.
In R&B music videos there are many jump shots to switch between the action going on throughout. Moreover, in R&B music
videos there is also many fade in edits to begin the videos so get the audience to view every part of the scene and get a gag e
of what R&B is all about e.g., in Dilemma there is a fade in into the location of the street of show the people in the scene.

11. Camera Angles
and Movement
G i r l s N e e d L o v e - T o b e g i n t h e c a m e r a i s u s e d t o
s h o w a n d m o v e t o w a r d s t h e s k a t e r s . T h e r e i s a l s o
m a n y b i r d s e y e v i e w s h o t s t o s h o w t h e s e t t i n g .
O n e , T w o S t e p - T h e r e i s m a n y s h o t s w h e r e t h e
c a m e r a i s b e l o w t h e a r t i s t s , s h e l o o k s t o i t b e l o w
t o s h o w h e r p o w e r . T h e r e i s a l s o a n o v e r t h e
s h o u l d e r s h o t w i t h h e r d a n c i n g i n t h e m i r r o r .
F o o l i s h - T o b e g i n t h e c a m e r a m o v e s f r o m e a c h
m a l e t o s h o w t h e i r n a r r a t i v e i n t h e v i d e o . T h e r e s
a l s o a l o w a n g l e s h o t t o s h o w t h e w o m e n ’ s p o w e r
o v e r t h e m a n .
L e t M e L o v e Y o u - C a m e r a b e g i n s b y m o v i n g i n t o
t h e n a r r a t i o n . T h e r e i s m a n y b i r d s e y e s h o t s t o
s h o w w h a t i t h a p p e n i n g b e t w e e n t h e a r t i s t s a n d
t h e g i r l ( s h o w s s e t t i n g . )
S o S i c k - T h e c a m e r a i s s e e n t o s h o w t h e w o m a n
a t a l o w e r s t a t u s t h a n t h e a r t i s t d u e t o t h e h i g h
a n g l e s h o t ( s h e l o o k s u p . ) T h e c a m e r a g o e s o u t
o f f o c u s o n t h e l i g h t s t o s h o w a s e n s e o f
m y s t e r y .
D i l e m m a - T o b e g i n a w i d e - a n g l e b i r d ’ s e y e s h o t
s o m o v e i n t o t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e v i d e o . T h e
c a m e r a n o r m a l l y p l a c e d l o w t h a n t h e p e o p l e i n
t h e v i d e o s t o h o w t h e i r h i g h s t a t u s .
S a y m y N a m e - S h a r p c a m e r a m o v e m e n t t o g o
w i t h t h e b e a t o f t h e s o n g , f r o m s c e n e t o s c e n e .
C a m e r a a t a r t i s t ’ s e y e - l e v e l w h i l e t h e y s i n g t o i t ,
l o t s o f e y e c o n t a c t t o e n g a g e v i e w e r s . L o w a n g l e
s h o t s t o s h o w w o m e n ’ s p o w e r .
Girls Need Love by
Summer Walker
One, Two Step by
Ciara
Foolish by
Ashanti
So Sick by
Ne-Yo
Dilemma by Nelly
Say My Name
by Destiny Child
Let Me Love You
by Mario

12. Overview of Camera Angles and
Movement in R&B
Camera angles are used in order to show mood or narrative within a music video. They include:
• High angle- The camera points down on the artist. This is used to show a sign of powerless or weakness.
• Low angle- The camera is below the level of eyeline and looks up at the artists. This is used to create a
sense of power and strength to the artists.
• Over the shoulder- The camera is just above the shoulder in the eyeline of artists. This can be used as a
point of view shot in order to see what the artists is.
• Bird’s eye- The camera is above. Used to show the location that the video is set in.
• Dutch angle /Tilt- The camera is tilted to one side. This is used to create tension and different emotions.
In R&B low angle shots (e.g., in 1,2, Step) are used the most as it makes the artist seem powerful and
some to look up to as an aspirational figure. Also, the movement from the camera is normally towards the
subject (e.g., in Girls Need Love to really highlight them or the prop.

13. Overview of Representation in R&B
Representation in music videos is used to show the concepts of social groups through society. In music videos
the mise en scene, lighting, shot types, editing techniques, camera angles, movement and narratives all play
parts in the representation of the video or genre. Representation represents:
• The class the genre is pointed towards.
• The age it is targeted for.
• The gender targeted.
• The ethnicity aimed at.
In R&B music through out the videos different factors show (through representation) the audience is it
targeted towards. R&B is represented to be targeted at young adults mainly females however men are
appealed to it as well. This is because of the stars used, attractiveness, party atmosphere etc. The mise en
scene is also used to represent things of which would appeal to their audience e.g., the lyrics used (explicit),
clothes worn, and the fact that these people are willing to watch and listen to R&B because it relates to their
lifestyle most (e.g., in Dilemma location is the streets.) Snap shots for representation are in each other slide
as these ideas make up the representation of the genre

14. Overview of Narrative in R&B
In music videos narration is used in order to make the song feel as if it has a purpose, there is
something that needs to be sung about. This idea is no different for R&B music. In R&B music the
idea that freedom and love is talked about most due to it being targeted at young female adults.
This group of people are in that stage of life were love and freedom is all they want and need.
Therefore, listening to R&B makes their fantasies come alive in a video, gives them hope and
happiness.
For example, in Foolish by Ashanti it begins with two men in a car having a conversation about the
girl one of them wants to be with. For the audience they want this idea so will carry on listening in
order to find out if he gets the girl. Then through out the video we see him taking her out for
dinner in nice places dressed in a smart manor in order to impress her. This idea that love is
everything is a massive part of R&B as it targets the audience, and it gives them a narrative for the
singer to be singing about (e.g., a certain person they are in love with, the idea of love or the idea
of being free.