The discourse article: Critical examinations of timely topics in leisure research

This article is part of a series including:

“White Savior” as duly provocative or enforced civility with unintended consequences? A response to Anderson, Knee, & Mowatt

“White-Savior Industrial Complex” in leisure studies: A response to Anderson, Knee, & Mowatt

Reflections on altruism, action, and “moral imagination” in the context of the White Savior

Leisure and the “White-Savior Industrial Complex”

As scientists, our curiosity for knowledge, commitment to critical thinking, and interest in intellectual discourse is rarely if ever sated. We are drawn to well-reasoned perspectives that are different from our own, that encourage us to think differently. It is this enjoyment in marveling in the possibilities and wondering about the unknown that leads us down a path of scientific progress. For those of us who have served as Editors-in-Chief and Associate Editors, every now and then we come across a manuscript that does not meet descriptions of original research or research notes, but presents an idea, concept, or perspective that captivates us, making it difficult to dismiss. Having been faced with such circumstances, and inspired by a suggestion by Dr. Rob Bixler, we asked ourselves how we might introduce a different model for JLR, that affords scholars in the field the opportunity for critical discussion and debate.

In this issue, the Editor-in-Chief and Senior Associate Editors of The Journal of Leisure Research (JLR) are pleased to introduce the first of what we are calling the Discourse Article. The purpose of a Discourse Article is to engage with a timely topic of interest to the field. The Discourse Article is a philosophical or conceptual paper around a novel, compelling, and/or provocative idea, in which a perspective of the topic is proposed. The Discourse Article is followed by two to three short responses from other scholars with expertise in the area, in the interest of encouraging greater insight and offering alternative viewpoints. There may be a rejoinder from the authors of the Discourse Article, depending on the topic, time to publication, and page availability in the specified issue.

The goal of this approach is multi-fold. First, the brevity of the papers allows for short turn-around in the review process, and fits within page allotments for an individual issue that another full-length research paper would not. Second, we intend the provocative nature of the ideas presented in the initial papers, along with the expert responses, will serve as a springboard for discussion and debate among faculty and students in hallways and classrooms, between offices and across borders. We have established specific procedures for Discourse Articles in order to ensure compliance with the aims, scope, and review protocols for JLR. Topics and original papers for Discourse Articles are identified or selected at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. Only one Discourse Article and responses can be published in a single issue, and we recommend that no more than two Discourse Articles be published in one volume (one calendar year).

Upon identifying a topic or paper of interest for a Discourse Article, the paper undergoes the full peer-review process. Criteria for review differs slightly from reviews for an original research paper, as the aims for such papers are different, but for the most part the process is the same. As with any review process, the original paper is subject to review comments and revisions, with the same potential outcomes. If and when a paper is accepted, the AE assigned to the Discourse Article solicits responses from scholars with established expertise on the topic being presented in the initial manuscript. The AE can serve as a sounding board for respondents and offer editorial suggestions, but the content of responses is left solely to the discretion of the author respondent.

In this first foray into a Discourse Article, Drs. Kristina Anderson, Eric Knee, and Rasul Mowatt (2021) present “Leisure and the ‘White-Savior Industrial Complex.’” In the paper, the authors parallel the tenets of the “White-Savior Industrial Complex” as proposed by Teju Cole (2012) with three lines of leisure research: voluntourism, youth development, and outdoor recreation. Drs. Nina Roberts (2021) and Edwin Gómez (2021) graciously agreed to serve as respondents in our exploratory effort into a Discourse Article. Both experts in social justice in leisure research, they provide informed and expert perspectives on Anderson et al.’s assessment. In the interest of inviting other perspectives and opinions, we are also launching a live blog with this Discourse Article, to which readers are invited to post their thoughts and ideas. The blog will be available for a limited time after the publishing of this series, and depending on how well it is received, may or may not be available for future Discourse Articles.

As countries around the world are confronting issues of systemic racism, white supremacy, and hegemony, this discussion is impeccably timed. We anticipate that this Discourse Article and responses will foster lively dialogue regarding the way justice has and has not been addressed in leisure research over the years, and directions it may go in the future as we embrace a more critical lens on how dominant cultures inform viewpoints and policy. A second Discourse Article with responses is currently in production and will appear in a forthcoming issue of JLR. We thank Dr. Rob Bixler for encouraging us to think creatively about how to inspire dialogue around timely topics, and welcome questions and responses to this new format. We also encourage constructive insights into future topics, this approach, and how Discourse Articles can best serve the readers of JLR.