Concealed Conscientization: A Case Study of a Commercial Dungeons & Dragons Adventure
Keywords:
Dungeons & Dragons, reception theory, Franz Fanon, Paolo Freire, conscientization, game designAbstract
This study presents a case study of a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) adventure that embeds key concepts from Karl Marx and Franz Fanon with the goal of provoking conscientization, the critical awakening advocated by Paolo Freire, for those who play it. The adventure was written under a pseudonym and has been accepted and published by a commercial publisher. Results from a playtest group provide empirical evidence that players received and made sense of the adventure in line with the intent of the author to critique contemporary religious fundamentalism and prompt reflection on colonialism. This research indicates that commercial publication of critical game design specifically within the context of the hegemonic D&D rules system has the potential to reach a significant audience.
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