A sequence exploring the intersection of play and the militarization of American tradition by photographer and professor Matthew Troyer. Based mostly in North Carolina, Troyer is a former U.S. Marine Corps Fight photographer. The main focus of “Taking part in at Battle” is Airsoft video games, particularly at Rockingham Airsoft and Tactical Help (RATS) in Reidsville, NC. The ability permits civilians, usually with out navy backgrounds, to don fight gear, wield reproduction weapons, and simulate conflict in an deserted elementary faculty. The literal transformation of a former place of studying right into a battleground speaks to the unsettling trajectory Troyer’s venture grapples with:
“The pictures discover how conflict’s aesthetics infiltrate on a regular basis life, turning battle into leisure and recreation. The venture asks viewers to replicate on the results: when conflict turns into a sport, how does it form our understanding of actual battle, trauma, and sacrifice? ‘Taking part in at Battle’ challenges the normalization of militarism in civilian areas, elevating questions in regards to the cultural embrace of violence in America.”
