George Dickie (philosopher)

George Dickie is a philosopher known for his work on aesthetics and the philosophy of art. He proposed the "institutional theory of art," which suggests that something is considered art if it is recognized as such by the artworld’s institutions, like galleries, critics, and museums. Essentially, art isn’t just about the item itself but about the context and the acknowledgment within the artistic community. This idea emphasizes the social and cultural factors that define and validate what we call art, shifting focus from the object's intrinsic qualities to the role of social institutions in its artistic status.