The White Lotus and the Aesthetic State of Moral Decay: Where is Western Civilization Heading?

 Introduction: The Emptiness Behind Luxury

     HBO’s much-discussed series, The White Lotus, might initially seem like a production that blends humor and drama, focusing on the holidays of the wealthy. Each season of this show, set in a tropical hotel, offers a window into the inner world of Western elites vacationing in different geographical locations. However, this window points not only to individual tragedies but also to the wholesale moral decay of a civilization.

Mike White

     The series exposes the current state of the West through themes such as infidelity, manipulation of gender roles, the disintegration of family structure, homosexuality, and consumer culture. In this article, we will center on The White Lotus to argue that the West's so-called "civilizing" process actually corrupts individuals and alienates them from their innate nature. From our perspective, we will trace the path of this decline.

1. Did You Say Marriage and Family?

     Perhaps the most striking aspect of the series is how the infidelity of married characters is portrayed as almost commonplace. In every season, secret affairs, fleeting desires, and betrayals among married characters become one of the fundamental dynamics of the show. Modern Western culture depicts a scenario where moral boundaries are increasingly blurred under the guise of "personal freedom," and sacred bonds like marriage are easily sacrificed for individual desires. So-called philosophical approaches and numerous other gilded arguments circulate among "highly educated" spouses, seeking to find an excuse for everything. In marriages where women pursue careers, men are utterly miserable! As for children, as they transition from "autonomy" to complete freedom, their purely material ties with their families, devoid of any spiritual connection, become increasingly evident. Children make no effort to obey their parents and, being deprived of maternal upbringing, they become "acclimated" to all the immoralities they will encounter in their future lives from a young age! The lack of warmth and intimacy between spouses is also clearly reflected in their relationships with their children.

     Therefore, the West's concept of "marriage" is entirely superficial, shallow, devoid of any depth, often based on self-interest, pragmatic, and a cold contract. It lacks the virtues and mission of protecting parties and new generations from evil and immorality or establishing a warm home!

2. The Normalization and Imposition of Homosexuality

     The second season of The White Lotus is particularly noteworthy for highlighting homosexual characters' relationships. This situation is not merely a matter of representation but a continuous message to the viewer that "this is also normal." These relationships are no longer just shown in series; they are also glorified and presented as deeper and more meaningful than heterosexual relationships. Indeed, some series and cinema viewing platforms have been intensely engaged in LGBT propaganda and agenda for several years now, constantly confronting us. Perverted characters, completely irrelevant and adding nothing to the main story, are forced upon the audience. The disgraceful cancel culture, which aims to tarnish anyone and any movement that doesn't conform to its views, spares no effort in fanning the flames!

3. The Devaluation of Masculinity and Femininity

     Male characters in the series are often in passive, weak, or guilty positions. Female characters, on the other hand, are either manipulative or figures who push the boundaries of being "strong." They may be at the peak of their academic careers or in enviable professional positions. The submissive husband, meanwhile, is either secretly cheating on his wife, tired of her nagging and scolding, or sits like a cat with its tail between its legs, hatching various schemes! In this regard, the series demonstrates how gender roles in the West have been overturned, and new models contrary to nature are being imposed.

4. Consumption, Hedonism, Nafs, Arrogance, and Emptiness

     Almost all characters in the series are financially wealthy and live in prosperity. However, this prosperity does not make them happy. Restlessness, loneliness, insecurity, endless doubts stemming from intellectual arrogance, and a sense of meaninglessness are common denominators for almost all characters. Money, all kinds of pleasure, travel, luxury consumption... nothing satisfies them. And it cannot satisfy them because fulfilling the body's desires does little for spiritual relief.

5. Monogamy and the Drama of the Man

     One of the things imposed by the secular West is monogamy, which has been rare in history. In this respect, the series is also a mirror of the man's broken-winged, helpless state. When this is added to the problems listed above, the man's situation truly becomes pitiable. Or rather, all these issues are interconnected and effectively melt away the man, who should be the pillar of the family, from his rightful position! For when the woman he happened to marry, and for whom he, so to speak, spent his "one shot," turns into a cold shadow who shows him little interest and pursues a career or work, there is only one thing left for the man to do: cheat. The man who seeks solace in the arms of low women increasingly distances himself from his family as his guilt intensifies, or he becomes a hypocrite skilled in lying.

Conclusion: Whither the West?

     The White Lotus is a form of civilization critique that exposes the current state of the modern West. However, this critique offers neither a solution nor a path to salvation to the viewer. This is because the West's value system is built on rotten foundations. This system, increasingly cornered by continuous waves of migration, is far from being a balm for individuals caught in the grip of hedonism and selfishness. One wonders how much longer this temporary wealth, established after days of exploiting untouched geographies, will continue to radiate false and artificial smiles?!