Whilst trying to write and make all the relevant information, research and main points of my dissertation fit, I am really struggling to get my head around the structure and flow of the whole thing.
I have so much triangulation I am worried that the whole essay is seeming disjointed which isn't helping me to overcome the confusion and anxiety about it all.
My current structure is as follows:
Introduction
Chapter 1: 1960's Counterculture Intro
- Psychedelic info & key terminology
- Psychedelic emergence into western culture
- LSD, Psychotherapy and medicine
- The makings of a counterculture (contextualising and setting the scene)
- Economic and social issues in 1950's - 60's USA and western world
Chapter 2: 1960's Counterculture - Psychedelics & Liberation
- The New Left movement
- Marx & Marcuse
VS
- The Hippie movement
- Modern day medicine
Chapter 3: Case studies
- Aldous Huxley - Utopia
- Shamanic ritual and cave paintings - The psychedelic experience and spirituality
- Psychedelic art from the era
Chapter 4: Reflective Practice
Conclusion
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What I notice from the above structure is how my research and points made in the modern day medicine section don't flow well into the next chapter of case studies. This information about modern day accomplishments is important as it provides an alternative look at the relationship between psychedelics and liberation, challenging the stigmas to arise from the counterculture period, and helps to bring my essay and points into the modern day and the importance of contemporary medicine in society.
This being said it doesn't seem to fit in chapter 2. When i look at my case studies - I cover nothing which relates to this information and this has got me thinking - where shall I put it and why is this relevant?
When I think about the modern day psychedelic medicine being carried out - this draws more parallels with my practical solution for the project. For my practical I want to move away from the stereotypes and stigma associated with the counterculture movements of the 1960's and focus on the medical advancements being made in today's society.
With this in mind, I am thinking of including the modern day section within chapter 4. For me this makes sense as I can cover much of the counterculture movement within the first 3 chapters, with case studies which are relevant to the points being made. I can then move on to modern day solidifying the relevance of this research project (outlined in the intro), discuss my points and show my research - which links directly to my practical and what I am attempting to achieve here (which I can then discuss). Within chapter 4 I can also triangulate back to the previous chapters and incorporate the juxtaposition of my practical response with case study 3: 'Psychedelic artwork from the era' (this providing an example of what I don't want my practical work to look like).
New Structure
Introduction
Chapter 1: 1960's Counterculture Intro
- Psychedelic info & key terminology
- Psychedelic emergence into western culture
- LSD, Psychotherapy and medicine
- The makings of a counterculture (contextualising and setting the scene)
- Economic and social issues in 1950's - 60's USA and western world
- (war, civil rights etc)
Chapter 2: 1960's Counterculture - Psychedelics & Liberation
- The New Left movement
- Marx & Marcuse
- Activism as a strive for liberation (new consciousness achieved through widespread psychedelic use)
VS
- The Hippie movement
- Leaving society as a means of liberation
- spiritual liberation through psychedelic use
- The psychedelic experience - altered states of consciousness
Chapter 3: Case studies
- Aldous Huxley - Utopia
- Shamanic ritual and cave paintings - The psychedelic experience and spirituality
- Psychedelic art from the era (fight the status quo and spur the counterculture movement on)
Chapter 4: Reflective Practice
- Modern day medicine
- triangulates back to chapter 1 and psychotherapy
- Draws parallels with traditional ancient shamanic uses - medicine
- Discuss my own artwork as a response
- the importance of seeing psychedelics as medicine NOT recreational use ( as in the 1960's counterculture)
- moving away from 1960's counterculture stigma
- reaffirms the medical liberation achieved through psychedelics and the importance of their reintegration into western society (as they have been used in other cultures since the dawn of man)
Conclusion
