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    Concealed Conscientization: A Case Study of a Commercial Dungeons & Dragons Adventure


    McKenzie, Brian, Zawilski, Bret and Beirne, James (2026) Concealed Conscientization: A Case Study of a Commercial Dungeons & Dragons Adventure. International Journal of Role-Playing (17). pp. 139-157. ISSN 2210-4909

    Abstract

    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 pseud onym 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 colonial ism. 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.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Dungeons & Dragons; reception theory; Franz Fanon; Paolo Freire; conscientization; game design;
    Academic Unit: Centre for Teaching and Learning
    Item ID: 21298
    Depositing User: Brian McKenzie
    Date Deposited: 11 Mar 2026 13:32
    Journal or Publication Title: International Journal of Role-Playing
    Publisher: Department of Game Design, Uppsala University-Campus Gotland
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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