User:Terra Novus/Western culture criticism Sandbox

Criticism of Western culture is any and all criticism directed toward the modern Western way of life. It can be seen as a part of the larger clash of civilizations, as that leveled by Joseph Conrad in his novel, Heart of Darkness. Modern criticism tends to focus on the increasingly secular and democratic nature of Western society, the lack of cultural traditionalism and morality, and the prevalence of materialism and humanism. In the popular mind, Criticism of Western culture is commonly associated with the War on Terror and the West's conflict with Islamic fundamentalism. Within the Western world, criticism can emanate from those intellectuals, or with groups who have political disagreements with each other. The classic African novel Things Fall Apart, is seen as an archetype of the philosophy, which portrays Westernization as a brutal process of imperialism.