Evoking the Industrial Past at the Urban-Rural Border Region: Social Movements and Cultural Production
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Thank you for writing an interesting article. My general comment is that it has potential to make an important contribution to the literature on post-industrial/ruined landscapes and, in particular, scholarship on memory and place. However, I do feel there needs to be some reworking of the paper before it can be considered ready for publication.
The article is situated within a range of theoretical perspectives on ruined landscapes and memory, but I do feel that the introduction is quite long. There is a lot going on here – and the first few paragraphs read more like a survey of the literature, rather than getting to the point of the article. The reader is not drawn directly into the article and its main arguments. One suggestion could be to shorten the introduction a little, and state closer to the beginning what the article is about. There needs to be a clear summary of the broader contribution (theoretical) of the paper. As I understand it, it is Ingold’s idea of the taskscape that seems to be influential for how you think about and make sense of your material, so perhaps this should be stated at the outset – it takes the reader a while to get a sense of what the point of the article is and what the main argument is.
Much of the discussion currently in the introduction could then be moved to section 2, where you engage with these theoretical perspectives. Otherwise, the article reads as if it comprises two parts – one a summary/survey of some key theoretical literature, the other a discussion of your case study and your data. As currently framed, I think these two parts of the paper are not quite connected – if the study site is introduced right at the beginning of the paper, so that there is more of a narrative, and then situated within this conceptual literature, I think it would flow better. So, perhaps it is worth thinking about moving section 4 (the case locus) to earlier in the paper (and renaming the sub-heading of this section so that the reader is drawn in to expect a discussion of a particular place/region).
I found the research material to be of most interest – and so, related to my point above, I think the theoretical discussion should help to frame this empirical work and the voices of the people who appear in the text. The point being made is to show how industrial ruins – in this case, of a railway – evoke memories of the past. There are some nice examples of this from interviews and ethnographic research. Again, I think an account of Maoming needs to come earlier in the chapter – it would be a stronger article if it was about the place – but the importance of the place tends to get subsumed by the attention given to the theoretical and the conceptual.
The concluding discussion is strong, but I think it could go further and return to the introduction so that you locate your interesting case study in the conceptual framing of the article (rather than the other way around), but also show how you article adds to or develops/builds on non-representational theoretical approaches and Ingold’s taskscape, not just how these theories can help make sense of your material.
I’m not sure if Table 1 adds anything to the article – in fact, the reason for it being there is not clear, so I suggest you consider removing it. There is also a list of references from pp. 197-220, so there is a problem with the formatting of the paper here.
There are some statements that need reworking – e.g., on line 36 I’m not sure that industrial ruins return to ‘romantic ruins’.
Some editorial work is needed to correct some of the grammar and phrasing (e.g., line 35, ‘human’s battle’ is just one example), and there is also some repetition in the paper. For example,
lines 129-131: ‘the landscape of the industrial past turns animate along the organism’s movement and the spirit of place is finally obtained due to the aesthetic sublimation of the landscaping’
lines 641-643: ‘the landscape of the industrial past turns animate along the organism’s movement and the spirit of place is finally obtained due to the aesthetic sublimation of the landscaping’
Not only is this repetitive, what does it mean? Can you explain what is meant by ‘the aesthetic sublimation of the landscaping’?
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Point 1: The article is situated within a range of theoretical perspectives on ruined landscapes and memory, but I do feel that the introduction is quite long. There is a lot going on here – and the first few paragraphs read more like a survey of the literature, rather than getting to the point of the article. The reader is not drawn directly into the article and its main arguments. One suggestion could be to shorten the introduction a little, and state closer to the beginning what the article is about. There needs to be a clear summary of the broader contribution (theoretical) of the paper. As I understand it, it is Ingold’s idea of the taskscape that seems to be influential for how you think about and make sense of your material, so perhaps this should be stated at the outset – it takes the reader a while to get a sense of what the point of the article is and what the main argument is. Response 1: Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. The introduction has been shortened and reorganized to state closer to the beginning what the article is about. Please see the introduction in the new revised revision. Ingold’s idea of the taskscape has been stated at the outset, wholly seen in the fourth paragraph of the introduction. A clear summary of the broader contribution (theoretical) of the paper could be found in the first paragraph and last paragraph of the conclusion (as shown below). In the first paragraph: The depth and richness of the memories of the industrial ruin site and the memories of industrial remains demand the attentive empathy of the researcher to dig, recover and rescue. To seek the man-land relationship implied in the articulations of industrial networked ruins between the multiple scales, we need to explore places as ‘constructed out of a particular constellation of social relations, meeting and weaving together at a particular locus’ [67] and persistently highlight the wider relations of even the smallest geographies. To anchor this aim, a topology and connectivity of hybrid geographies is applied in sketching out the multiplicity and temporality of the landscape generated in/by the movements and rhythms of the heterogeneous association of the urban-rural fringe. However, to prevent the view of ‘a flat picture’, ‘certain elements of this could be usefully drawn into the non-representational milieu to ensure that this fundamental aspect of life’ [31] is more fully accounted for. Mobility can be reflected from the movement and be employed as one of perspectives to evoke the memories, especially regarding the relevant sense of motion-in-vision and tactile engagement in driving and walking, such as the transport landscaping of ‘on the way’. Ingold’s taskscape conceptualized terms penetrate into this paper to explore the phenomenological industrial past in memories.The participant’s dual identity as both a mining worker and a native lends weight to the urban-rural dimension and the spillover of indigenous knowledge; this is spontaneously parallel to the heterogeneity of the hybrid industrial-rural landscape between the 1960s and 1980s. In the last paragraph: the paper’s considerations on evoking the memories of the industrial past has bridged between the representational and structural and the non-representational, the phenomenological and the post-structural ,and on heeding a closeness to the style and tone in which events are organized as dramatic episodes ,might be regarded as an innovation of the same type. Paper’s practical significance please see the third paragraph: As for our research, in particular the 2nd scene, taskscape was put under the broad context of social history to demonstrate the intersecting effect on the urban-rural border area and its affordance while consistently at its crux which is enlaced with movement, memory and place, has expanded its length on principle of “organism-environment”. Our visits were obviously limited by time, resources and opportunity, what we have exploration only a portion towards non-representative theory-a vast and elusive theoretical system pervasive with vitality. From the perspective of post-phenomenology of new cultural geography, the study of industrial geography can revivify the dead geography and answer the complex queries in the study of the working-class. Correlative future studies could expand to the connection between modern industrial development and industrial past, as well as industrial material and environment. Point 2: Much of the discussion currently in the introduction could then be moved to section 2, where you engage with these theoretical perspectives. Otherwise, the article reads as if it comprises two parts – one a summary/survey of some key theoretical literature, the other a discussion of your case study and your data. As currently framed, I think these two parts of the paper are not quite connected – if the study site is introduced right at the beginning of the paper, so that there is more of a narrative, and then situated within this conceptual literature, I think it would flow better. So, perhaps it is worth thinking about moving section 4 (the case locus) to earlier in the paper (and renaming the sub-heading of this section so that the reader is drawn in to expect a discussion of a particular place/region). Response 2: Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. The third paragraph of the introduction is about the study site and about research aim. In the fifth paragraph of the introduction, the study site was discussed within conceptual literature. Section 4(the case locus) has been moved earlier as section 2, renaming the sub-heading as: . Please see the correspondent place in the new revised version. Point 3： I found the research material to be of most interest – and so, related to my point above, I think the theoretical discussion should help to frame this empirical work and the voices of the people who appear in the text. The point being made is to show how industrial ruins – in this case, of a railway – evoke memories of the past. There are some nice examples of this from interviews and ethnographic research. Again, I think an account of Maoming needs to come earlier in the chapter – it would be a stronger article if it was about the place – but the importance of the place tends to get subsumed by the attention given to the theoretical and the conceptual. Response 3: Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. In the section 2, a comprehensive account of Maoming opencast-pit and of the TSA ruins site has been given, including this region’s natural features, topography, material and social background, especially elements that would be used in the data processing. (please see the section2 in the new revised version) Point 4： The concluding discussion is strong, but I think it could go further and return to the introduction so that you locate your interesting case study in the conceptual framing of the article (rather than the other way around), but also show how you article adds to or develops/builds on non-representational theoretical approaches and Ingold’s taskscape, not just how these theories can help make sense of your material. Response 4: Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. This point has been taken responses to in the last two paragraphs of the conclusion (as shown below): As for our research, in particular the 2nd scene, taskscape was put under the broad context of social history to demonstrate the intersecting effect on the urban-rural border area and its affordance while consistently at its crux which is enlaced with movement, memory and place, has expanded its length on principle of “organism-environment”. Our visits were obviously limited by time, resources and opportunity, what we have exploration only a portion towards non-representative theory-a vast and elusive theoretical system pervasive with vitality. From the perspective of post-phenomenology of new cultural geography, the study of industrial geography can revivify the dead geography and answer the complex queries in the study of the working-class. Correlative future studies could expand to the connection between modern industrial development and industrial past, as well as industrial material and environment. Paper chime with broader critical geographical concerns on accelerating processes of economic restructuring and selective destruction, on the rural livelihood and city development. the paper’s considerations on evoking the memories of the industrial past has bridged between the representational and structural and the non-representational, the phenomenological and the post-structural ,and on heeding a closeness to the style and tone in which events are organized as dramatic episodes ,might be regarded as an innovation of the same type. The ethnography at the TSA industrial ruins site has proved to be encounter with a world that is thick with the significance inscribed by the memories of those who have previously lived within it. One quotation thought of at this instant may situate this right:“It is its soul. I mean if people, even this generation, if they found out . . . how the place came into being and how hard people fought for it to become what it is, they would have a greater appreciation of the town and its ideas” Point 5： I’m not sure if Table 1 adds anything to the article – in fact, the reason for it being there is not clear, so I suggest you consider removing it. There is also a list of references from pp. 197-220, so there is a problem with the formatting of the paper here. Response 5: Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. I had removed this Table. Point 6： There are some statements that need reworking – e.g., on line 36 I’m not sure that industrial ruins return to ‘romantic ruins’. Response 6: Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. It has been modified as ‘Decayed coal mines, railroads and canals have always been symbols of human battle against an overwhelming nature now seem to return to nature as ruins. Point 7： Some editorial work is needed to correct some of the grammar and phrasing (e.g., line 35, ‘human’s battle’ is just one example), and there is also some repetition in the paper. For example, lines 129-131: ‘the landscape of the industrial past turns animate along the organism’s movement and the spirit of place is finally obtained due to the aesthetic sublimation of the landscaping’ lines 641-643: ‘the landscape of the industrial past turns animate along the organism’s movement and the spirit of place is finally obtained due to the aesthetic sublimation of the landscaping’ Response 7: Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. ‘human’s battle’ has been modified as human battle. The second ‘the landscape of the industrial past turns animate along the organism’s movement and the spirit of place is finally obtained due to the aesthetic sublimation of the landscaping’ has been removed. Point 8： Not only is this repetitive, what does it mean? Can you explain what is meant by ‘the aesthetic sublimation of the landscaping’? Response 8: Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. Based on references on the source of inspiration for phenomenology, it might be understood as an art intervention. The episodes and experiences of life inscribed in the body are to be laid down as register memory of place. The episodes of the spatial relations ,through experiencing in the landscape or along with landscaping practices (a "mobile spatial field"), many elements of time and space would be connected, in this way, through the transformation of the creative subject, loyally based on its initial sources, sequential experience or events ever took place in the spatial structure could be reconstructed. It is like the theme and structure changes in drama, from which we can sense an artistic appeal and place spirit.
Reviewer 2 Report
Point 1: The aim of the article is to explore the changes suffered in the territory through the memory and experiences of factory workers (re-examine the locality of one industrial city and regenerate the local culture) but I think it should be indicated in a clearer way.
Point 2: I propose to include the term industrial heritage in the main title (since it is the object of study, as reflected in the keywords). I suggest adding a word to the main title: Evoking the industrial past at the urban-rural border region: social movements and cultural production.
Point 3: Despite the brief presentation on the hybrid perspective of non-representational theory and Taskscape and giving some bibliographical references about it, the authors need to give more details about the debate, the research gap and the need to put the contribution of the article.
Point 4: Introduction and chapter Theoretical framework should be improved, and you should consider more recent contributions. In addition, reference should be made to industrial heritage and industrial memory.
Point 5: In the Methodology chapter, the authors must write an explanation of why they opted for the “mobile ethnography” in their research and what such a methodology provides.
Point 6: The interviews have been carried out in a wide space of time. I think it may be interesting to include a table with the sample, its sociodemographic characteristics, it's coding, and the date of the interview. In addition, you must specify which ones have done seated interviews and walking interviews.
Point 7: The procedure for analyzing the content of the interviews should be better explained.
Point 8: In the introduction and in the results, reference is made to a survey that is not referred to in the methodology section. This point should be clarified.
Point 9: In the results chapter the authors mention the analysis of archive and photographic materials. However, I think more results could have been presented on this. It would be necessary to expand more information about the topics and contrast it with more data.
Point 10: In addition, it would be interesting to expose the interconnection between the different interviewees on the same topic. It needs to be better aligned how the different parts are related to each other, and a better explanation is needed why each step is taken in relation to the aim and research question.
Point 11: Insert in the conclusion the theoretical background and the practical implications in a clearer way. What would be the action proposals to follow through the data received? Also, it is not entirely clear what the study's contribution to the literature is. It is also necessary that the authors clearly mention the limitations of the study. Also, it is important to expand this chapter by explaining what impact the research results will have on future research of the authors and how their results can serve other researchers.
Minor issues:
Point 1: insert in the introduction the structure of the paper.
Point 2: In figure 4 I don't know if it would be possible to add an old photo of the rails now converted into a similar path to figure 2.
Point 3: Complete bibliographic citation 29.
Author Response
Point 1: The aim of the article is to explore the changes suffered in the territory through the memory and experiences of factory workers (re-examine the locality of one industrial city and regenerate the local culture) but I think it should be indicated in a clearer way.
Point 2: I propose to include the term industrial heritage in the main title (since it is the object of study, as reflected in the keywords). I suggest adding a word to the main title: Evoking the industrial past at the urban-rural border region: social movements and cultural production.
Response 2:
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. The title has been transformed as: Evoking the industrial past at the urban-rural border region: social movements and cultural production.
Point 3: Despite the brief presentation on the hybrid perspective of non-representational theory and Taskscape and giving some bibliographical references about it, the authors need to give more details about the debate, the research gap and the need to put the contribution of the article.
Response 3:
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. I have made detailed revisions in accordance with the reviewers' comments.
Debate:
However, much of the literature has focused on disciplines of history, sociology, architecture and archaeology, and solely stabilised or structured via messages in texts and images [22,23] might be assumed difficultly enacting the depth and fold of the industrial ruin sites. (in the introduction)
Nevertheless, it has been said that in many NRT accounts, ‘memory seems underplayed in relation to its close cousins, imagination, emotion, affect’. It maybe argued there is a renewed sense of a need to develop newly critical and creative means of expressing relationships between biography, history, culture and landscape. (in the introduction)
However, to prevent the view of ‘a flat picture’, ‘certain elements of this could be usefully drawn into the non-representational milieu to ensure that this fundamental aspect of life’ [31] is more fully accounted for. (in the conclusion)
Gap:
Our visits were obviously limited by time, resources and opportunity, what we have exploration only a portion towards non-representative theory-a vast and elusive theoretical system pervasive with vitality. From the perspective of post-phenomenology of new cultural geography, the study of industrial geography can revivify the dead geography and answer the complex queries in the study of the working-class. Correlative future studies could expand to the connection between modern industrial development and industrial past, as well as industrial material and environment. (in the conclusion)
Contribution:
As such, this paper has innovatively achieved a bridge between the representational and structural, and the non-representational, the phenomenological and the post-structural.In addition, this paper creatively employed interweaving imaginaries to capture the animate fabric of the taskscape in the recollections, which might be regarded as an innovation of the same type. (in the conclusion).
Point 4: Introduction and chapter Theoretical framework should be improved, and you should consider more recent contributions. In addition, reference should be made to industrial heritage and industrial memory.
Response 4：
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. This survey is about memory-industrial ruins site and memory-industrial remains, attentive to ‘living memories’, former personal experiences of the people who memorize the mundaneness of everyday landscapes.
More related contributions on industrial memory have been inserted into the introduction (as shown below):
Previous studies around memory-industrial ruins site and memory-industrial remains , are mainly centered on ‘living memories’, former personal experiences of the people who memorize the mundaneness of everyday landscapes65-67 ,memory loss and nostalgia68 synthesis of history and memory in ethnography,69 in Island,70 de-industrialization,71 urban-rural social conflicts72. However, much of the literature has focused on disciplines of history, sociology, architecture and archaeology, and solely stabilised or structured via messages in texts and images [22,23] might be assumed difficultly enacting the depth and fold of the industrial ruin sites.
In that case, Edensor took the lead in deploying sensations and affective resonances-the non-representational engagements with the ‘haunting’ working-class spaces of industrial past at the fringe of the city [12], and Subsequently, another non-representative type studies of post-industrial landscape on “spectral”
Point 5: In the Methodology chapter, the authors must write an explanation of why they opted for the “mobile ethnography” in their research and what such a methodology provides.
Response 5:
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. It is one non-representational style ethnography employed in this research, aims to enliven, resonate, rupture, re-imagine and it is that of becoming entangled in relations and objects. Such interactional adaptations and multiple mobilities can create ‘interspaces’ – places created on the move, in-between events, in- between origins and destinations, thus ‘animating the potential of these meshwork for our geographical imagination’. It was during the walking process, in which participants were immersed in the surroundings that the profuse narratives were conveyed. Especially, the discursive dimensions of participants’ experiences and perceptions underlying the narratives are to be stressed on.
Point 6: The interviews have been carried out in a wide space of time. I think it may be interesting to include a table with the sample, its sociodemographic characteristics, it's coding, and the date of the interview. In addition, you must specify which ones have done seated interviews and walking interviews.
Response 6:
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. A table has been inserted.
Point 7: The procedure for analyzing the content of the interviews should be better explained.
Response 7:
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. Landscape writing focus upon ‘lives lived’, upon biography and narrative. First, I collated the notes from the interviews of the day and listened to the tape over and over again, remaining faithful to those registers of memory. Secondly, I create the possibility of approaching its style and tone, within which I locate and organize events that will form the important moments. Furthermore, the scattered landscape was distributed as story and dramatic episodes, or as a play of life practice, and was creatively reedited, retold, retaining its original narrative integrity.
Point 8: In the introduction and in the results, reference is made to a survey that is not referred to in the methodology section. This point should be clarified.
Response 8：
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. The methodology is at its crux on “mobile ethnography” ,thus, other qualitative methods are not unfolding elaborated here.
Point 9: In the results chapter the authors mention the analysis of archive and photographic materials. However, I think more results could have been presented on this. It would be necessary to expand more information about the topics and contrast it with more data.
Response 9:
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. Based on the comprehensive qualitative research methods of mobile ethnography and in-depth interview, this paper aims to evoke the industrial past through non-representational memory, and explore the significance of industrial sites and the connotation of local culture. The related archives and pictures are used as supplementary means, while the pictures to awaken and prompt the entry and immersion of memories during seated interview.
Point 10: In addition, it would be interesting to expose the interconnection between the different interviewees on the same topic. It needs to be better aligned how the different parts are related to each other, and a better explanation is needed why each step is taken in relation to the aim and research question.
Response 10:
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. Please see the results and discussion part for the application of interview materials. This chapter is divided into two parts according to the “dramatic episodes” in the drama. The connection between these two parts and the content of their classification and the theoretical background on which they are based detailed in the introduction (as shown below), conclusion and the abstract.
Considering the above, while seeking a significant source of inspiration from Judith Butler’s performativity ethnomethodology as well as traditions of performance studies in theatre and drama, this paper configurates the previous industrial taskscape as ‘stories and dramatic episodes’, with the scene of the organic individual-environment first, then the scene of the organic group-place, the survey on the TSA involves the relations of one single site (the opencast pit) to the greater production network，topology and connectivity of hybrid geographies, which are deployed to sketch out ‘the multiplicity of space-times generated in/by the movements and rhythms of heterogeneous association’ of the urban-rural fringe.(in the introduction)
Point 11: Insert in the conclusion the theoretical background and the practical implications in a clearer way. What would be the action proposals to follow through the data received? Also, it is not entirely clear what the study's contribution to the literature is. It is also necessary that the authors clearly mention the limitations of the study. Also, it is important to expand this chapter by explaining what impact the research results will have on future research of the authors and how their results can serve other researchers.
Response 11:
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments.
Theoretical background:
To anchor this aim, a topology and connectivity of hybrid geographies is applied in sketching out the multiplicity and temporality of the landscape generated in/by the movements and rhythms of the heterogeneous association of the urban-rural fringe. However, to prevent the view of ‘a flat picture’, ‘certain elements of this could be usefully drawn into the non-representational milieu to ensure that this fundamental aspect of life’ is more fully accounted for. Mobility can be reflected from the movement and be employed as one of perspectives to evoke the memories, especially regarding the relevant sense of motion-in-vision and tactile engagement in driving and walking, such as the transport landscaping of ‘on the way’. Ingold’s taskscape conceptualized terms penetrate into this paper to explore the phenomenological industrial past in memories.（In the Conclusion）
.
Practical significance:
Paper chime with broader critical geographical concerns on accelerating processes of economic restructuring and selective destruction, on the rural livelihood and city development. （In the Conclusion）
The ethnography at the TSA industrial ruins site has proved to be encounter with a world that is thick with the significance inscribed by the memories of those who have previously lived within it. One quotation thought of at this instant may situate this right:“It is its soul. I mean if people, even this generation, if they found out . . . how the place came into being and how hard people fought for it to become what it is, they would have a greater appreciation of the town and its ideas” （In the Conclusion）
Action suggestions:
please refer to response to point 7.
Contribution to literature:
Paper chime with broader critical geographical concerns on accelerating processes of economic restructuring and selective destruction, on the rural livelihood and city development. the paper’s considerations on evoking the memories of the industrial past has bridged between the representational and structural and the non-representational, the phenomenological and the post-structural ,and on heeding a closeness to the style and tone in which events are organized as dramatic episodes ,might be regarded as an innovation of the same type.（In the Conclusion）.
The author's future research and the research results serve other scholars:
It has been proved that non-representational theory can emerge strong sense of “on site” and has impressive potential to create "thick" spatiality and vitality. From the perspective of post-phenomenology of new cultural geography, the study of industrial geography can revivify the dead geography and answer the complex queries in the study of the working-class. Correlative future studies could expand to the connection between modern industrial development and industrial past, as well as industrial material and environment. (in the Conclusion)
Minor issues:
Point 1: insert in the introduction the structure of the paper.
Given a consideration to the sections which are not very complicated but the length of the introduction has limits, the structure of the paper not insert thusly.
Point 2: In figure 4 I don't know if it would be possible to add an old photo of the rails now converted into a similar path to figure 2.
One old photo of Jingtang Station has been inserted to replace the original figure 4.
Point 3: Complete bibliographic citation 29.
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. It has been completed.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Authors
I appreciate your responses to my suggestions. The reworking of the paper has given it a much better flow, and I think that there is now a good integration of the paper’s case study site – as well as the experiences and voices of the interviewees – with its theoretical position and discussion. The conclusions are now much stronger and situate the material within, and relate it to, the literature very nicely. One thing did strike me: the abstract mentions 'a structure of feeling', which indicates that this would be discussed at length, but I could only find one reference to it (on line 840). I recognise that the idea of a structure of feeling is implicit in much of what is discussed in the paper, but I think a few more lines to elaborate on the term's specific usefulness would be important (as the abstract sets the reader up to expect this).
I think the main work is now a thorough edit.
Some careful editing is needed in parts, especially for grammar. I list below just a few examples of where this is necessary; some are relatively minor, while some rephrasing is needed in other places (this is not an exhaustive list, but are offered as examples of things I picked up while reading):
There needs to be consistency with authorial voice: e.g., I’m assuming the paper is co-authored because of the use of ‘our’, ‘we’, and ‘us’, but on pp. 170-171, we find ‘As an (sic) cultural geographer……those questions that haunted me most…..’
There needs to be a rephrasing of the paper’s introductory sentences. The article currently begins (p. 38) with: ‘The deindustrialisation is overwhelmed globally.’ And I still think the statement about ‘human battle’ needs to be reworked. I think the point being made is that industrial ruins stand as stand of evidence of a long history of extractive industry, not a ‘battle’ with ‘an overwhelming nature’.
pp. 193-195:
‘Considering the above, while seeking a significant source of inspiration from Judith Butler’s performativity methodology as well as traditions of performance studies in theatre and drama. This paper configurates….’
Should be:
‘Considering the above, while seeking a significant source of inspiration from Judith Butler’s performativity methodology, as well as traditions of performance studies in theatre and drama, this article seeks to configure….’
p. 220: delete the first sentence beginning ‘Not exaggeratingly….’ This doesn’t make sense. Or, it should be rephrased, e.g. ‘It is often said locally that without an open cast pit, there would be no Maoming.’
p. 266: ‘to differently entangle’ – should just be ‘to entangle’
p. 395: ‘aided by the archival and photographic materials’. Remove ‘the’
Kind regards.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Many thanks for your confirmation on our work.
One thing did strike me: the abstract mentions 'a structure of feeling', which indicates that this would be discussed at length, but I could only find one reference to it (on line 840). I recognise that the idea of a structure of feeling is implicit in much of what is discussed in the paper, but I think a few more lines to elaborate on the term's specific usefulness would be important (as the abstract sets the reader up to expect this).
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. One small portion has been inserted into “Results and Discussion” (near the end of this section).
Williams talked about structure of feeling as being understood as emergent, dominant or residual. Tea, as a common object, that emerge and embodies the structures constitutive of a particular type of workplace environment, that have the same meaning for a given set of workers who are recruited at different times and are seen in the same manner by them. This is the sense in which workers are, and feel able to be, deeply embedded within work. The cumulative experiences in a given setting can create complex, multi-layered meanings, as previous meanings are taken into account and then connected to an individual’s own experiences to form their feelings of a site, as well as a shared understanding of collective identity. W2's habitus of drinking Xindong tea represents a movement from the externality of established customs and norms to the internality of durable dispositions.
I think the main work is now a thorough edit.
Some careful editing is needed in parts, especially for grammar. I list below just a few examples of where this is necessary; some are relatively minor, while some rephrasing is needed in other places (this is not an exhaustive list, but are offered as examples of things I picked up while reading):
There needs to be consistency with authorial voice: e.g., I’m assuming the paper is co-authored because of the use of ‘our’, ‘we’, and ‘us’, but on pp. 170-171, we find ‘As an (sic) cultural geographer……those questions that haunted me most…..’
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. It has been modified as ‘As cultural geographical researchers, in the course of the survey, those questions that haunted us most are…’
There needs to be a rephrasing of the paper’s introductory sentences. The article currently begins (p. 38) with: ‘The deindustrialisation is overwhelmed globally.’ And I still think the statement about ‘human battle’ needs to be reworked. I think the point being made is that industrial ruins stand as stand of evidence of a long history of extractive industry, not a ‘battle’ with ‘an overwhelming nature’.
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. The industrial past reflected in this paper is assumed to be confined the outset from 1958，it was an era that everything suffered from a shortage of resources, especially at its initial phrase of mine ‘s breaking ground ,laying rails and earth-rock handling were mainly figured out by manpower due to not-developed or not-arrived production tools and facilities, more, living food supplies are scarce and everyone lingered at the state of feeding just full or half full. However, it was an era that the oil production was in scarce supply, the task of finding oil must be accomplished urgently. Thus, it is as the right description in section2,“though the mining work condition was tough, no one complained. it was equivalent to a battle in search of oil”.
So, considering the above, here, it might be understood as a human battle against nature, against a tough working milieu, thusly achieving the effect of “the prelude and coda echo from beginning to end” and reaffirm the spirit of the place.
- 193-195:
‘Considering the above, while seeking a significant source of inspiration from Judith Butler’s performativity methodology as well as traditions of performance studies in theatre and drama. This paper configurates….’
Should be:
‘Considering the above, while seeking a significant source of inspiration from Judith Butler’s performativity methodology, as well as traditions of performance studies in theatre and drama, this article seeks to configure….’
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. It has been modified as ‘Considering the above, while seeking a significant source of inspiration from Judith Butler’s performativity methodology, as well as traditions of performance studies in theatre and drama, this article seeks to configure….’
- 220: delete the first sentence beginning ‘Not exaggeratingly….’ This doesn’t make sense. Or, it should be rephrased, e.g. ‘It is often said locally that without an open cast pit, there would be no Maoming.’
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. It has been modified as ‘It is often said locally that without an open cast pit, there would be no Maoming.’
- 266: ‘to differently entangle’ – should just be ‘to entangle’
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. It has been modified as ‘to entangle’
- 395: ‘aided by the archival and photographic materials’. Remove ‘the’
Many thanks for reviewer’s comments. It has been modified as ‘aided by archival and photographic materials’
Best regards
Authors
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
