The 4-Layer Framework: How to Audit and Rewrite Any Narrative

By Harri Alatalo, The Sense Maker

Why Stories Need a Framework

Stories are how we understand the world, whether it’s a joke between friends, a brand’s ad campaign, or a national myth. But when stories are repeated, packaged, and spread by corporations, politicians, or algorithms, they become narratives: structured, persistent frameworks designed to guide our thinking.

Do we have a problem with this? Well, most of us only see one layer of the story, or the one that’s been fed to us. We may miss the roots, adaptations, and systemic impacts that together constitute the whole narrative.

Is there a solution? You can test our 4-Layer Framework:

The 4 Layers

Layer	Question to Ask
1. Dig Up the Roots	Where did this story come from, and who did it serve?
2. Track the Adaptations	How has this story been repackaged, and why?
3. Spot the Patterns	Where does this story show up today, and what’s erased?
4. Rewrite for Justice	How can we reframe this story to center truth, nuance, or empowerment?

Layer 1: Dig Up the Roots

Question: Where did this story come from, and who did it serve?

How to Do It:

1. Individual Level:
   • “Where did I first hear this story?” (e.g., a parent’s criticism, a teacher’s praise).
   • Example: “I’m not good enough” → Origin: A childhood report card comment.
2. Narrative Level:
   • “What cultural trope does this reflect?” (e.g., “the hero’s journey,” “tragedy”).
   • Example: Nike’s “Just Do It” → Origin: Gary Gilmore’s last words (repurposed for motivation).
3. Meta-Narrative Level:
   • “What systemic worldview does this reinforce?” (e.g., capitalism, progress, exceptionalism).
   • Example: “The American Dream” → Origin: Post-WWII promise of prosperity (to unify a nation).

Tool: Use the 12 Ways to Categorize Reality to map the roots:

• Domain of Reality: Political? Economic? Spiritual?
• Scale: Personal? Local? Global?
• Type of Change: Linear? Cyclical? Spiral?

Example:

Level	Root of “Hustle Culture”
Individual	“My dad worked 80-hour weeks and called it ‘grit.’”
Narrative	1980s: “Work hard, play hard” (yuppie culture).
Meta-Narrative	Capitalism: “Productivity = human worth” (Protestant work ethic + industrial revolution).

Layer 2: Track the Adaptations

Question: How has this story been repackaged, and why?

How to Do It:

1. Individual Level:
   • “How has my self-talk evolved?” (e.g., from “I’m lazy” to “I’m burned out”).
2. Narrative Level:
   • “How has this trope been repurposed?” (e.g., “disruptor” CEOs → from rebels to corporate heroes).
3. Meta-Narrative Level:
   • “How has this worldview been weaponized?” (e.g., “progress” → from Enlightenment hope to Silicon Valley disruption).

Tool: Track adaptations using the most suitable Lenses from the 12 Lenses list:

• By Domain: How did it move from spiritual to economic?
• By Scale: How did it shift from local to global?
• By Type of Change: How did it go from cyclical to linear?

Example:

Level	Adaptations of “The American Dream”
Individual	1950s: “Own a home and you’ve made it.” → 2020s: “Side hustle your way to freedom.”
Narrative	1980s: “Greed is good” (Wall Street). → 2010s: “Hustle culture” (Instagram).
Meta-Narrative	Neoliberalism: “Government is the problem” (Reagan) → “You’re the CEO of your life” (self-help industry).

Tip: this one might be challenging, but is a no-brainer for an AI assistant. Try this

1. Identify a narrative that is of interest to you. You can search recent news or trending items in social media or Google Trends, for example. Give the AI some examples and ask it for suggestions for the name of the narrative
2. Then give it the link to the “12 Ways to Categorize reality” article and ask it to select the most appropriate categories for the analysis
3. Last, give it the final prompt: “Act as a narrative analyst. Use the 12 Lenses tool to explain how [narrative name here] has adapted over time. Focus on the [category names here] lenses. Give me 3 key adaptations with examples.

Layer 3: Spot the Patterns

Question: Where does this story show up today, and what’s erased?

How to Do It (With Hierarchy):

1. Individual Level:
   • “Where do I see this in my life?” (e.g., anxiety before promotions, guilt over rest).
2. Narrative Level:
   • “Where does this trope appear in culture?” (e.g., “girlboss” feminism in ads).
3. Meta-Narrative Level:
   • “What systemic impacts does this have?” (e.g., “hustle culture” → burnout epidemic).

Tool: Use the Story Hierarchy Pyramid to map manifestations:

Copy[Meta-Narrative: Systemic]
          "Capitalism = Human Worth"
             /           \
[Narrative: Cultural]     [Narrative: Cultural]
"Hustle Culture"          "Girlboss Feminism"
   /       \                 /          \
[Individual]             [Individual]
"I’m lazy"    "I must grind"       "I’m not enough"

Example:

Level	Patterns of “Just Do It” Today
Individual	Self-doubt: “If I’m not productive, I’m failing.”
Narrative	Ads: “Just buy this and you’ll be a hero.”
Meta-Narrative	Policy: “No safety nets—just bootstrap yourself.”

Layer 4: Rewrite for Justice

Question: How can we reframe this story to center truth, nuance, or empowerment?

How to Do It (With Hierarchy):

1. Individual Level:
   • Rewrite self-talk: “I’m not lazy—I’m human.” → “Rest is part of the work.”
2. Narrative Level:
   • Reframe tropes: “Just Do It” → “Just Demand It: Fight for fair wages and rest.”
3. Meta-Narrative Level:
   • Challenge worldviews: “The American Dream” → “The American Reality: Systemic change, not personal blame.”

Tool: Use the 12 Ways to Categorize Reality to design alternatives:

• Domain: Shift from economic to ecological (e.g., “growth” → “regeneration”).
• Scale: Move from individual to collective (e.g., “my success” → “our thriving”).
• Type of Change: Replace linear with cyclical (e.g., “progress” → “balance”).

Example:

Level	Rewrites of “Hustle Culture”
Individual	“I am enough as I am.”
Narrative	“Success is collective, not individual.”
Meta-Narrative	“Capitalism must center care, not just profit.”

Putting It Into Action: a Case Study

Nike’s “Just Do It”

Layer	Question	Analysis	Rewrite
1. Dig Up the Roots	Where did this come from?	Individual: Gary Gilmore’s last words. Narrative: 1980s fitness culture. Meta-Narrative: Protestant work ethic + capitalism.	“Just Do It” started as a convict’s resignation—now it’s a corporate command.
2. Track Adaptations	How has it been repackaged?	Individual: “Push through pain.” Narrative: Colin Kaepernick ads (social justice). Meta-Narrative: “Consume to resist.”	From individual grit to corporate activism—with the same profit motive.
3. Spot the Patterns	Where does it show up today?	Individual: Burnout. Narrative: Fitness influencers. Meta-Narrative: Anti-labor policies.	Pattern: Individual action as a substitute for systemic change.
4. Rewrite for Justice	How can we reframe it?	Individual: “Rest is resistance.” Narrative: “Just Demand It: Fight for fair wages.” Meta-Narrative: “Collective care > corporate profit.”	“Just Demand It: Fight for rest, wages, and healthcare—not just sneakers.”

Hack Your Own Narrative

1. Pick a narrative—an ad, a slogan, or a thought like “I’m not good enough.”
2. Apply the 4 layers:
   • Dig up the roots (individual → narrative → meta-narrative).
   • Track the adaptations (how did it evolve at each level?).
   • Spot the patterns (where does it show up today?).
   • Rewrite for justice (how can we challenge it at all three levels?).
3. Share your hack with #SenseMaker.
4. Read the “Sense Maker’s Manifesto“
5. Book a Session with us here to apply the framework to your brand, classroom, or activism.