Measures: How "deep" do you dig to find the truth or meaning of something?

• Level 1: Descriptive

  • Definition: What is happening on the surface is described.
  • Practical Example: "The story's protagonist fought a dragon."

• Level 2: Functional

  • Definition: It explains how or why something works in a mechanical way.
  • Practical Example: "The protagonist won because his magic sword could pierce the dragon's scales."

• Level 3: Analytical

  • Definition: The event is interpreted using existing frameworks or theories.
  • Practical Example: "The story is a metaphor for the 'hero's journey,' where the dragon symbolizes the final obstacle to achieving maturity."

• Level 4: Meta-Analytical

  • Definition: The very frameworks and theories used for analysis are questioned.
  • Practical Example: "Is the 'hero's journey' still relevant today, or is it a cliché? Why does the princess always need to be rescued?"

• Level 5: Genesis-Level

  • Definition: The search is for the fundamental principle or the axiomatic "reason for being" from which the entire system emerges.
  • Practical Example: "We tell stories of heroes and dragons because they reflect a fundamental psychological need of humanity: the belief that order (the hero) can triumph over chaos (the dragon)."