Verso una stilometria del graphic novel. Problemi di teoria e metodo

The article focuses on the application of stylometric methods for the study of graphic narratives. The first part sketches a brief history of stylometry and presents the main methods and applications in literary studies (such as authorship attribution and distant reading). The second part discusses the most recent proposals for a “visual stylometry” of the graphic novel, focusing on the connections with computer science and neuroscience. The third part presents the results of a series of experiments carried out on a sample corpus, showing the effectiveness of these methods, but also their limitations and errors – which, ultimately, stimulate new interpretations and open new critical perspectives. A theoretical discussion of the risks and opportunities of such approaches closes the article.