This book is published as the catalogue for The Arts for Television. an exhibition examining television as form and forum for the contemporary arts. Curated by Kathy Rae Huffman and Dorine Mignot, and administered by Julie Lazar, the exhibition is organized by The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.

The exhibition features over 60 artists, and is divided into six themes: Image, Theatre, Literature, Dance, Music, and Television. Artists include Joan Jonas, Nam June Paik/Shigeko Kubota, Samuel Beckett, Laurie Anderson and more.

Copies of essays contained within the catalogue can be found in the Criticial Writing Index binder 1987, item code 1987.078.