What Do We Teach When We Teach Harold Pinter?

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article explores the relationship between Harold Pinter's political plays and Paulo Freire's critical pedagogy. Situating this discussion within the context of neoliberalism and its impact on higher education, the article argues that teaching the work of Harold Pinter can manifest Freire's commitment to education as a practice of freedom, whereby individuals enter into dialogue with one another in order to identify, discuss, and overcome oppression and exploitation. In particular, the article addresses how Pinter's political plays encourage students and teachers alike to develop the critical consciousness necessary to transform oppressive socioeconomic structures and the political institutions that reinforce them.