Research Into Similar Products: Ordinary People by John Legend

Ordinary People by John Legend, challenging conventions

Ordinary people is another example of R&B soul. The codes and conventions within this video are more explicit. Within the conventions of R&B men are commonly topless to show off their well sculptured body appealing to the target audience of young females, but this music video challenges that as John is dressed casually and not trying to gain the attention of the audience through gaze, again challenging the idea of the artists regularly showing off their wealth and power through possessions as he is not surrounded by provocative women, cars and other things that suggest wealth. 

His video and his lyrics do not promote mysogyny and instead, keeps it very casual. The orchestra is another example of what is commonly used within the R&B soul genre, peeling back all the excitement that is frequently used within R&B for example a very uplifting and enthusiastic atmosphere, this video has created a very calm and relax vibe by using soft instruments for example a violin and piano, which allows the audience to close their eyes and enjoy simply the music and the lyrics unlike the stereotypical R&B song. The darker filter used in the video to make it black and white is a convention that is typically used in romantic and very emotional R&B songs and therefore not every aspect of the video challenges the common conventions.