Sex Workers and the City of Light

In the contemporary world, prostitution tends to be hidden in the shadows; in 19th-century Paris, however, sex workers were openly acknowledged as part of the urban landscape. Etymologically, the word “prostitution” means “to set forth or place in public,” and the centrality of prostitution to 19th-century Parisian life exposes the broader logic of the age: the cash nexus infiltrates all forms of human experience and endeavor, including love and art.

Paul Morrison, professor, English, Brandeis University

Wednesday, April 3, 2019