When you create something it has to follow a genre. It has to look familiar to something that has been here before. Otherwise, we don’t get it.
On the other hand…
We didn’t understand Campbell’s Soup, Fountain, and Lavender Mist at first. It broke our brains. It didn’t remind us of anything that came before.
This is rare and indeed difficult to do. You either get really lucky or learn to develop excellent taste.
The great works of art still followed some rules though. Paint still finds a way to get on a canvas.
Understanding genre, which rules to follow, which to bend and which to break will serve you well in becoming a professional in your field.
Josh Allred's Blog 