I like Cheerskep's comment about rules in sports and art. There's nothing comparable to my knowledge with respect to deciding the validity of art according to specific fixed rules as with competitive sports. However, the rules of the game metaphor does apply. In some instances pre-established rules for art validity can be set, as in linear perspective, or in preparing work "site specific" or in a host of other ways. Artists often make rules for their own practices, determining the process and materials they use, how, when, where, etc. Art judgments are frequently based on explicit rules and in fact during the era of official Church and State patronage, elaborate contracts were composed that spelled out the rules to be followed by both parties, artist and patron. The old academy rules for painting stipulated the "brown school" which was simply underpainting in browns with lights and shadows added. wc
