Full Idea
The 'institutional' theory says to be an artwork, an artwork must be appropriately placed within a web of practices, roles and frameworks that comprise an informally organised institution, the artworld.
Gist of Idea
The 'institutional' theory says art is just something appropriately placed in the 'artworld'
Source
Stephen Davies (The Philosophy of Art (2nd ed) [2016], 2.5)
Book Reference
Davies,Stephen: 'The Philosophy of Art (2nd ed)' [Wiley Blackwell 2016], p.36
A Reaction
[He cites George Dickie] This theory seems to entirely developed to cope with the defiant gesture of Marcel Duchamp. Once I am an established artist, I have the authority to label anything I like as a work of art. Silly.