One of the most influential ideas in the sociology of art, the concept of an art world provides the basis for a sociological orientation for understanding the arts, in contrast to artist-centered approaches favored in disciplines other than sociology. Art worlds have both social and cultural components. The concept of an art world implies that art is a collective activity rather than the product of solitary genius. The cultural bases for co-operation among actors in art worlds are shared commitments to artistic conventions that define what is considered to be “art” in a specific period and how it should be produced.