Western-focused
Describing a perspective, approach, or viewpoint that centers primarily on the cultures, history, values, and experiences of Western nations, particularly those in Europe and North America. This emphasis may involve prioritizing Western narratives, perspectives, and standards while potentially marginalizing or overlooking those of other regions or cultures. It often implies a degree of ethnocentrism, where Western norms are implicitly considered the universal or superior standard, impacting fields like art, history, education, media, and global politics. The term highlights a bias in the direction of Western values, often associated with a lack of awareness of other cultures.
Western-focused meaning with examples
- The history textbook was criticized for its Western-focused narrative, giving scant attention to the development and contributions of civilizations in Asia and Africa, leading to a skewed understanding of global events. This resulted in a narrow, Eurocentric worldview, leaving the students with an incomplete picture of the world's rich and diverse past.
- The film's storyline, with its Western-focused themes of individualism and consumerism, resonated well with audiences in North America and Europe but failed to capture the attention of viewers in many parts of Asia, where collectivist values are more prevalent and the story's values felt foreign and unrelatable.
- Critics argued that the museum's art collection was overwhelmingly Western-focused, neglecting to showcase the significant achievements of artists from the Global South. The display reinforced a perception that Western art is the pinnacle of artistic expression, leaving the history of global culture in its wake, unrepresented.
- The university's curriculum was deemed to be Western-focused in its approach to political science, primarily analyzing global power dynamics through a Western lens, with very few contributions made by different nations. It struggled with the integration of non-Western theories and perspectives.