Part 2. What in the World Does That Message Mean?

Recap on Part 1: What in the World Does That Message Mean?

In Part 1, I introduced the Adaptive Sentiment Analysis Tool (ASAT1), a detailed AI prompt project I developed to uncover emotional and or layered themes in passages of text. Using adaptive frameworks, it seeks to decode meaning in complex or misunderstood legible writing, helping to reveal nuance and unravel complexity. As a designer, this pursuit aligns closely with my design thinking, championing nuance as a guiding light towards clarity and identity. In this Part 2 conclusion, I’ll share an example of the tool’s outputs and reflect on how approaches like this inform my creative and analytical processes.

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Crafting Clarity: Guiding AI to Uncover Hidden Layers

ASAT1 didn’t simply churn out these results by itself. I crafted ASAT1 as a detailed prompt to guide its focus, curating specific frameworks and providing instructions to shape the AI’s process. For me, this wasn’t just an experiment in analysis, it was an exercise in developing a system to see more than others might. After all, understanding the essence of something, whether a text or a brand, requires a willingness to look deeper and connect the dots that others might overlook or discover a resonating sentiment a brand can use as it's thematic anchor.

Let’s dive into what I found. Below is a summary of the sample text I reviewed and the insights generated by ASAT1. (For context, I haven’t included the original text or the full prompt here; this article focuses on the insights themselves.)

A Quick Summary Context of the Sample Text

In The Trial by Franz Kafka, Josef K. is abruptly arrested for an unspecified crime. What follows is his relentless journey through an oppressive bureaucratic system where guilt is imposed without clear cause. Kafka’s narrative conveys Josef K.’s growing isolation, frustration, and dread, making it an ideal candidate for exploring through ASAT1’s lens.

The Trial by Franz Kafka was originally written in 1914–1915 but was published posthumously in 1925.

For copyright reasons, I’ve summarised the text rather than quoting it directly. While this adds a layer of interpretation, the aim is to showcase how ASAT1 engages with general complexities and to connect its approach to the frameworks I use in brand building and design - seeking out what makes something resonate, be it a narrative or a brand’s identity.

Results from the analysis:

end of AI analysis.

ASAT1 generates results in three distinct layers:

• Framework Insights – Targeted findings drawn from adaptively selected frameworks.
• Sentiment Breakdown – Quantitative emotional tones represented as percentages.
• Overall Summary – A synthesis of the central themes and emotional journey of the text.

Each layer builds on the other, revealing the emotional and thematic nuances that define this passage of Kafka’s The Trial. While this is a raw and simple approach to analysis, deeper explorations could be achieved by refining the prompt to include additional frameworks from my list or other criteria. This was not an exhaustive undertaking.

What the Analysis Revealed to me

What resonated most with me was how the tool showed the primary themes of guilt, control, and oppression in The Trial, reframing familiar ideas through a lens of nuanced analysis. For me, this parallels the work of distilling complex brand identities, ASAT1 acts as a guide to pinpoint layers of meaning that may or may not otherwise go unnoticed.

• Guilt and Authority: Critical Discourse Analysis revealed how Kafka’s portrayal of bureaucracy reflects invisible forces of power and control. This reframes guilt as an external imposition rather than something inherent to Josef K.’s actions. Similarly, brands are often shaped, or distorted, by external forces and perceptions, a parallel that reinforces my belief in the value of seeking clarity through systems.
• Bureaucracy as Oppression: Frame Analysis highlighted how Kafka’s labyrinthine narrative structure mirrors Josef K.’s psychological state. The disorientation becomes a metaphor for inescapable systems of control. This aligns with my beliefs around the importance of frameworks in design systems that bring clarity, guide identity, and help audiences navigate meaning with intention.
• Quantifying Emotion: Sentiment Analysis quantified Josef K.’s emotional landscape - 35% helplessness, 25% frustration, and 18% paranoia. Seeing these feelings represented clearly offered a fresh perspective on Kafka’s ability to evoke universal emotions. Quantifying nuance can help unlock deeper audience connections, whether in literature or branding.

Why Frameworks Matter

Frameworks are a useful tool to assist with interpreting what makes something unique, valuable, and exciting - whether it’s the soul of a brand or the hidden meaning in a piece of writing. They allow me to identify areas where greater depth or clarity is needed in developing a brand’s identity. By structuring ambiguity, frameworks decode assumptions, influences, and meaning that might otherwise remain hidden.

They may even offer an opportunity as a reflection pause to strengthen a brand philosophy or company mantra in need of perspective and improvement.

ASAT1 applied several frameworks to Kafka’s work, offering insights on:

• Core Themes and Messages: What’s at the heart of The Trial?
• Cultural and Societal Influences: How do beliefs and norms shape its meaning?
• Intertextual References: What larger conversations does it draw from?
• Language and Structure: How do Kafka’s choices shape the reader’s experience?
• Reader Positioning: How are we, as readers, being guided—or potentially manipulated?

This search for essence taps into my curiosity for exploring the undeniable truth.

Beyond Literature: A Broader Application

The search for nuance and meaning is relevant across industries. It is already widely used in commerce and politics. Adaptive frameworks like mine are also great in potentially highlighting insights in areas like:

• Market Research: Revealing sentiments in consumer feedback.
• Creative Briefs: Potentially uncovering hidden assumptions and priorities.
• Healthcare Messaging: Shaping communication for emotional impact.
• Business Communication: Decoding subtext in unclear directives or messaging.

Whether analysing literature or brand strategy, frameworks bridge the gap between intuition and structure, enabling a deeper understanding of what makes something resonate.

Final Thoughts

Using ASAT1 to explore a few summarized passages of The Trial offered fresh perspectives on Kafka’s universal themes of guilt, control, and isolation. But more than that, it reaffirmed my belief in the importance of frameworks to uncover essence. While AI interpretations should always be validated and supplemented with personal analysis, ASAT1 didn’t solve Kafka’s mysteries - it helped me interpret them with greater clarity.

If you’re curious to test the ASAT1 prompt, let me know. I wonder what it might reveal for you.

Nick Girling | Master Brand Designer Melbourne, Australia

? Copyright 2024. Nick Girling. (Adaptive Sentiment Analysis Tool (ASAT1))