Rauschenberg's "Bed" Is it art?

The following art criticism post is adapted from page 210 and page 37 of the book,  Puzzles about Art by Battin, Fisher, Moore & Silvers.

Image from creativegames.org uk

Robert Rauschenberg's 1955 "Bed" (see at right)  is a portion of his bed in a "work of art".  One may question:  Is this really art?  Using linens, a quilt, a pillow and paint, Raushcenberg has attached parts of his bed on a stretcher, framed it, and entitled, the piece, "Bed".

The book, Puzzle about Art tells that in 1958, Rauschenberg was asked to participate in an exhibition in Italy. Wishing to participate, he submitted "Bed".  The curators of the show were taken aback at his submission, and were very disgruntled to say the least.  They would not display this "artwork" in the main gallery of the show.  The "Bed" was instead put in a storage area.  What was the reason the curators were so shocked about this work of art?  Given that this was 1958 and 55 years has passed since, do you think this type of art is now acceptable for a show?  Or, do you think that it is still a questionable submission for a show?  What would you do as a curator of the show?

Would you say it is a conceptual art?  Conceptual art meaning that the viewer or audience forms their own opinion about the artwork. The audience forms an idea or their own concept about what the artist's message is to the art world about the piece or about himself?

Most importantly, is it art?  What exactly is art?  George Dickie, the writer, argues that the term, art is undefineable.  He originally stated that art is based on whether it is seen as an artifact or based on a set of creteria by the artworld.  This definition did not suffice; and then he reasoned this--his "new" definition of art --catergorized into five criteria:
 1) artists create and understand making art
 2) artwork is an artifact that is created and seen by the public
 3) the public are people that are able to decipher with some intellect what art is being shown
 4) the artworld is the sum of all artworld systems
 5) the artworld system is a set of criteria for presenting art to the artworld by the artist

Confused?  Does this really define what art is?  I think we might all agree on #1?  The other four, I'll leave up to you to decide for yourself.  Consider this:  Are any of the statements facts or opinions?  Remember, one can have an opinion about art, which is stating their feelings or interpretation of the art; but to state a fact, means it can be proven or is in fact, true.  So, I would consider Dickie's criteria opinions.  For myself, though, I would say that artists definitely create art (fact) whether they understand their own art could be a (fact) or (opinion).  A fact about the artwork:  There is tactile texture, color, pattern, and other elements and principles of art per se.

So, is Rauschenberg's "Bed" what?  Art? Conceptual Art? Not sure? Expressionism? an aesthetic dilemma?
Acceptable?  Unacceptable?   You decide. 


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