By the Book—Publishing as an Art World: An Examination of a Cultural Industry

Becker's notion of art worlds "examines the relationships among creators, distribution networks, art works, and society" ​ (Alexander, 2003, pg. 67). Becker also argues that every aspect of the art world is shaped by the whole system that produces them"”art is a collective activity and a process, not just a finished product. The production of culture perspective also sees how art is created, produced and distributed as part of a larger system. We can apply both these principles to the publishing industry; a book is not just a finished product, is it the result of the effort of many people, some who work directly and others who assist indirectly. The author is not a sole creator, operating in a silo. There is a whole process of production, beyond just conceiving the idea and putting words on paper. "Cultural objects are filtered through"”and affected"”by the people and systems that create and distribute them" ​, states Alexander (2003, pg. 68), referring to the cultural diamond, which depicts the interrelated stages of creation, production, and distribution of art. Using the concept of art worlds and the particular constraints put upon them as well as the notion of the production of culture, we will examine ways in which the traditional book publishing industry conforms to these theories, and the concerns related to this compliance.