Networks of Sex Work and Witchcraft in Early Modern Venice: Some Methodological Challenges
Thu 10/15 • 3:30PM - 5PM PDT
UCLA DataX, 3312 Murphy Hall
Abstract: In early modern Venice, sex workers were frequently accused of practicing magic and witchcraft, subsequently facing trial before the Holy Office. Drawing upon this empirical evidence, this project examines hundreds of Inquisition files spanning the years 1580 to 1630 to reconstruct these women's social networks. The objective is to contextualize and interpret the complex interrelationships between magic, sex work, and gender dynamics in early modern society. Adopting a microhistorical approach that integrates close reading with social network analysis and Gephi visualizations, this paper presents preliminary findings and discusses the methodological challenges of translating archival sources into digital data—particularly when researching the lives of marginalized, working-class women.
Bio: Alessandra Celati is a research fellow in Early Modern History at the University of Turin, Italy. She earned her PhD from the University of Pisa and was a Marie Curie Global Fellow between Stanford University and the University of Verona, where she conducted research for several years. She is currently working on a project focused on "Love Magic and Sex Work in Early Modern Venice: A Network of Women in the Inquisition Records."
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