Apparently the Eastern and Native American view of time is the past is in front of the observer, while the future is behind. In that the past is known and what is in front can be seen. Which accords with the physical reality that we see events after they occur, then the energy transitions to other events and observations.

The western assumption tends to be the future is in front and the past behind, because we tend to see ourselves as distinct entities, moving through our environment.

So this atomized versus networked dichotomy is extensive, but not very well explored.