Culture Worlds: From Urban Worlds to Global Worlds

Abstract

This paper explores the implications of the globalization of culture worlds in art and fashion. A global culture world is defined as one in which a small number of cultural organizations from several countries dominates the global production and dissemination of a particular form of culture. Participants in global culture worlds congregate in international art or trade fairs where they develop a consensus about what they are doing and who is doing it best. Global culture worlds are hierarchical settings in which the activities of the most powerful actors affect the opportunities available to actors in regional and urban worlds. Differences in power and prestige at the national level are magnified at the global level. Economic rewards take precedence over symbolic rewards as seen in the types of culture that circulate in these worlds and the ways they are produced. Dominated by Western organizations, global worlds fit a center-periphery model.

Keywords: Art World, Fashion World, Trade Fair, Globalization