Orientalism refers to the imitation or depiction of aspects of
Eastern cultures by Western writers, designers and artists. It can
also refer to a sympathetic stance towards the region by a writer
or other person. A couple of characteristics attributed to
Orientalism are inscrutability, religious extremism and being
backward culturally, scientifically and in technology. Orientalism
has become negative in meaning when referring to Eastern cultures
and societies. Since Muslims and Arabs originally come from the
Eastern countries Orientalism fits here.