Abstract
This chapter examines the student debt crisis and the corresponding reality that an entire generation is in danger of being written off or disposed of. The popular series Squid Game situates our discussion wherein the danger of research and stories that simply focus on student debt numbers fails to address the physical and psychological burdens of debt. To overcome this critical omission, we provide analysis grounded in critical race theory and the construction of an intersectional narrative and textual analysis of those struggling not only financially with debt but also psychologically. Additionally, we use the work of Eric Fromm and Michel Foucault to explore self-care, creativity, and anarchist concepts of mutual aid and cooperation as modes of resistance. This work highlights the need for community outreach and student action.
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Kaltefleiter, C.K., Ponirakis, J.S., Robinson, J.T. (2022). Squid Game and Student Debt Resistance: A Politics of Self-Care, Creativity, and Collective Action in the Neoliberal University. In: Wilson, B.C. (eds) Care, Climate, and Debt. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-96355-2_8
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