Critical text by Jorge Glusberg published following a workshop held at Palazzo Grassi in 1979, hosted by New York University and the Center of Art and Communication of Buenos Aries. Chapters in publication include "A prehistory of the genre," "The rise of happening," "Body Art and Performances," "Body discourse," "Signs and open codes," "The liberation of languages," "The reality of desire," "Kaprow, Beuys and Fluxus today," and "Appendix: L'Art Corporel" authored by Gregory Battcock. Includes performance images of Vincenzo Agnetti, Ha Schult, Gaetano Bodanza, Katsuhiro Yamaguchi, Jean Clarebout, Leopoldo Maler, Shigeko Kubota, Federica Marangoni, Bill Viola, Willoughby Sharp, Marta Minujin, Nam June Paik, David Haxton, Dennis Oppenheim, Kathy Toma, Bernard Joubert, Benni Efrat, Giuseppe Chiari, Valie Export, Hermann Nitsch, Pontus Hulten, Pierpaolo Calzolari, Lea Lublin, Rolando Peña, Les Levine, Orlan, Wolf Kahlen, Rasa Todosijevic, Gina Pane, Jochen Gerz, Bruno Talpo, Ian Breakwell, Gerald Minkoff, Lola Bonora, Gianni Pettena, Hervé Fischer, Jean Otth, Kubisch - Plessi, Michel Journiac, and images taken during the symposium.