“Playing at War” by Photographer Matthew Troyer

A series exploring the intersection of play and the militarization of American culture by photographer and professor Matthew Troyer. Based in North Carolina, Troyer is a former U.S. Marine Corps Combat photographer. The focus of “Playing at War” is Airsoft games, specifically at Rockingham Airsoft and Tactical Support (RATS) in Reidsville, NC. The facility allows civilians, often without military backgrounds, to don combat gear, wield replica weapons, and simulate war in an abandoned elementary school. The literal transformation of a former place of learning into a battleground speaks to the unsettling trajectory Troyer’s project grapples with:

“The images explore how war’s aesthetics infiltrate everyday life, turning conflict into entertainment and recreation. The project asks viewers to reflect on the consequences: when war becomes a game, how does it shape our understanding of real conflict, trauma, and sacrifice? ‘Playing at War’ challenges the normalization of militarism in civilian spaces, raising questions about the cultural embrace of violence in America.”