Meaning: This quote by David Antin, a renowned poet and performance artist, captures the complex relationship between creation and interpretation, authorship and performance. When he says, "When I got to the reading all the work, I was reduced to being an actor in an experimental play that I'd already written. And I didn't want to be an actor," he is expressing a profound sense of detachment and perhaps frustration with the process of presenting his own work in a public setting.

In this quote, Antin seems to be grappling with the experience of performing his own written work, suggesting that when he is reading his poetry to an audience, he feels as though he is merely reenacting a script rather than authentically engaging with the material. This sentiment reflects the tension between the act of creation and the act of interpretation, as well as the challenge of maintaining a sense of personal agency and authenticity within the context of public presentation.

Antin's reference to being "reduced to being an actor" in the context of a reading underscores the complex nature of performance and authorship. While he is the author of the work he is presenting, the act of reading it aloud to an audience can create a sense of distance or detachment from the creative process. This may stem from the performative nature of public readings, where the author's role shifts from that of a solitary creator to a performer on a stage, embodying the words they have written.

The phrase "an experimental play that I'd already written" suggests that Antin's work is both a product of deliberate artistic intention and an open-ended, evolving entity. By characterizing his own writing as an "experimental play," he alludes to the dynamic and unpredictable nature of artistic expression, as well as the potential for interpretation and reinterpretation inherent in creative work. This portrayal challenges traditional notions of authorial control and emphasizes the role of the audience in shaping the meaning of a literary work.

Furthermore, Antin's statement "And I didn't want to be an actor" conveys a sense of resistance or reluctance to assume a performative role in the presentation of his work. This reluctance may stem from a desire to preserve the purity of the creative process, to resist the pressure to conform to expectations, or to reclaim a sense of agency and authenticity in the face of external demands.

In the context of performance art, this quote raises thought-provoking questions about the relationship between the artist and their work, the dynamics of interpretation and presentation, and the negotiation of identity and agency within the realm of public performance. It challenges us to consider the complexities of artistic expression and the ways in which the act of presenting one's own work can shape and transform the creative experience.

Overall, David Antin's quote encapsulates the intricate interplay between authorship and performance, inviting us to contemplate the multifaceted nature of creativity and the challenges of navigating the boundaries between creation and interpretation in the realm of public presentation.