Games of the Oppressed is a framework for creating liberatory interactive art based on the work of Augusto Boal and Paulo Freire. This framework is a prototype, as all art is. Global capitalism is a system which overwhelmingly harms humanity. The current frameworks for developing games, a powerful tool for artistic expression and cultural movement, are largely built to reinforce interconnected systems of capital. This thesis attempts to build a framework for gamemaking which reinforces the movement of humanity toward a brighter future. How can games be made with the ongoing intention of facilitating this movement, cultivating class consciousness, and leading to deeper community connections and conversations around issues of oppression? A formulation for such a framework is posited that includes two basic criteria: that during play, players change the rules of the game, and that they engage consciously and critically with an issue of oppression from their own lives.

As part of my investigation of the framework, I created six example games and shared them at my program's MFA show. Additionally, I created a workshop which anyone can host where participants learn to create games of the oppressed, and a zine which helps provide context for the works, both of which ask viewers/participants to modify their contents.But I'm not just here to share my work on an MFA thesis. I'm here writing, sitting at my computer on a Friday night for one reason only: to convince you, dear friend, to make art more actively that builds toward post-capitalism. And, if you feel you need a structure to do that creation with: I will happily provide you this one. So get ready, get comfy, grab some tea and snacks. Let's play some games. Welcome, friend, to Games of the Oppressed.