Outline for my Dissertation - Table of Contents

I was given the green light by my advisor Laura Grillo to start writing my proposal - the first two chapters of my dissertation. The title has also been revised, thanks to Laura. She came up with "The Heartbeat of the Mother." Totally brilliant!

The outline will really help me to keep my notes organized. Elizabeth Terzian, my dissertation coordinator, suggested that I print out notes for each of the sections in a different colored paper so I can see where everything fits. Equally brilliant!

I'm planning to start with the "Review of the Literature" because I am still in research mode. I think starting here will help me to integrate my topic with the different areas of scholarship and methodologies that will be applied in my dissertation. I plan to have this completed by June 12, 2006, prior to my second fieldwork trip to Brazil. This upcoming trip will be 3 weeks, 4 weeks at the most. It will be exciting and hopefully easier to get all of my contacts lined up for interviews before I arrive.

Another exciting development is that I will be meeting Tina de Souza in May - she is an iyalorixa of Umbanda. She is coming to San Francisco to teach and conduct ritual. I also hope to coordinate time with her in Sao Paulo during my June trip.

Working Title: The Heartbeat of the Mother: Drumming & Transformation in Candomble

Table of Contents (Standard Pacifica Graduate Institute order):

Introduction

Review of the Literature

Organization of the Study

I. A Journey Over Water

II. The City of Strong Women (or The City of Mothers)

III. That was Then and This is Now - No More Syncretism

IV. Ayabas: Mythopoetic Images of the Elemental Forces of Nature:
Nana, Iemanja, Oxum, Oba, Iansa, Ewa, Logunede, Oxumare

V. Sacred Space & the Body in Candomble

Conclusion

Works Cited & Appendices