Abstract: Designs of the Oppressed builds upon the work of Paulo Freire, Augusto Boal, and Álvaro Vieira Pinto. These authors devised a critical view of being in the world as an existential project that can be oppressed or liberating. The oppressed project depends on exogenous existential projects like colonialism, patriarchy, and capitalism that do not allow the oppressed people to recognize their autonomous production of existence. Conversely, the liberating project offers a critical reflexive mirror for the oppressed so that they can realize their past deeds, present alternatives, and future potentials. Designs of the Oppressed aims at turning oppressed projects into liberating projects by recognizing the designs by the oppressed for the oppressed, especially when they are not considered proper designs by the oppressors.
Audio lecture recorded for the online Designs of the Oppressed (2021) course.