Art Basel is more than just a fair in the commercial sense of the word, more than a concentrated gathering of dealers offering their goods for sale to interested buyers. It is the site of display of holy goods in the presence of thousands and thousands of believers, a mecca for the ritualized adoration of modern and contemporary art. It is also the decisive witness of the upheaval marking a radical change in the relationship between art and money, with all of the consequences—not least, the evaluation of what is to be regarded as "genuine" art. offers a sociological study in the vein of Pierre Bourdieu, the result of several years of field work, attempting to draw a picture of this change as perceived by the participants, fair organizers, gallerists, collectors, curators, art consultants and artists as a central problem of the contemporary art scene.