1 | Internal use only1 | Preliminares

Preliminaries ProjectSummer 2012David Browndbrow52@uwo.ca

Don Quixote, Cervantes; Madrid, 1605. Biblioteca Nacional de España; Madrid,

Spain

2 | Internal use only2 | Preliminares

Objectives:

Build a graph database using Sylva based on

information gathered from the preliminaries of 17th

century Spanish literature (people, places, dates,

institutions etc.)

Better understand the historical social networks

that influenced publication of early modern Spanish

literature

3 | Internal use only3 | Preliminares

Preliminaries?Everything included in the

printed text before the

beginning of the work itself

5 types of information

Details of publication

Documentation of censorship

Licensing

Selling price

Dedications

El Pasajero, Suárez de Figueroa; Barcelona, 1618. Thomas Fisher Rare

Books Library; Toronto, ON

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The process:

17th century divided into periods based on Validos

Royal favorite that served as head of

government

3 phases

List of impressions

Location/Acquisition of

impressions

Construction of databaseAcquisitions list, 1599-1618

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The database: Schemas/Nodes

Aprobación Carta Dedicatoria Edición Fe de erratas Impresión Institución Lugar Obra Otro documento Persona Poema Tasa Venta

Connected by a variety

of relationships/edges

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Progress:1st period 1599-1618: Francisco

de Sandoval y Rojas, Duke of

Lerma

Approx. 106 works by 52

authors (low: Comedias)

328 impressions183 acquired in PDF format

Waiting for response on over 80

ILL requests

Started database constructionPeter Paul Rubens, Equestrian Portrait

of the Duke of Lerma,, 1603, Oil on canvas, 290.5 cm. x 207.5 cm. Museo

del Prado

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Progress:

2nd period 1621-1643: Gaspar

de Guzmán, Count-Duke of

Olivares

List of Works/Impressions in

progressCurrently approx. 140 works by

64 authors (low)

187 impressionsDiego Velázquez, The Count-Duke of

Olivates, 1624, Oil on canvas. Meseu de Arte, Sao Paulo, Brasil

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Academic contributions: Why do the Preliminaries Project? Facilitates quantitative analysis of cultural production,

history of publication, and the social networks that

supported these processes

Helps to identify key points for qualitative analysis of

historical figures, works of literature,

political/ecclesiastic structures, institutions etc.

Contributes extensive bibliographic data to the field of

Hispanic Studies in the form of a highly organized,

searchable database

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Academic contributions: Analysis of the Preliminaries database Extensive and varied possibilities for analysis

Interaction between political structures and cultural

production

Analysis of emerging/changing complexity in cultural

systems

Dynamicity/staticity of printing centers

Transatlantic literary production

Diffusion of cultural products over space and time

Comparative studies between different time periods of all of

the above topics

…

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Thank you

Questions?