Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Art and Design Theses Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design Spring 4-13-2012 A Renegotiation of the Role of the Artist in the 1950s Era of Mechanical Reproduction: The Early Careers of Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg Rebekah S. Scoggins Georgia State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/art_design_theses Recommended Citation Scoggins, Rebekah S., "A Renegotiation of the Role of the Artist in the 1950s Era of Mechanical Reproduction: The Early Careers of Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2012. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/art_design_theses/104 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Art and Design Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. A RENEGOTIATION OF THE ROLE OF THE ARTIST IN THE 1950S ERA OF MECHANICAL REPRODUCTION: THE EARLY CAREERS OF JASPER JOHNS AND ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG by REBEKAH SCOGGINS Under the Direction of Susan Richmond ABSTRACT Although Walter Benjamin argues printed materials are without traditional art authority or aura, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg’s work exists in the tradition of high art despite their use of mass-produced materials. Johns and Rauschenberg rely on the distracted attention of the viewer in the age of reproduction to engender reassessment of materials in their works. They use objects that contribute to the new distracted audience but create works that force the viewer toward intense contemplation; their works also combat trends Benjamin identifies to stake their claim as artists of original works while remaining relevant to the modern era.