so when the assingment asks me about listing characterism of orientalism it refers to who are the arabs and muslims as you describe the following.Arabs are loosely defined as anyone who speaks Arabic or is descended from an Arabic-speaking family. Most (but not all) Arabs follow the religion of Islam.
Muslims are the people who follow the religion of Islam. Arabs are an ethnic group.
Orientalism:
http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Orientalism.html
Be sure you read the definitions here.
There are many countries and cultures in the Orient, but Arabs and Muslims are not prominent among them. References to the Orient usually include Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, etc. -- that is, countries and cultures from about India eastward to the Pacific Ocean. This is a huge generalization, though, and generalizations are fairly inaccurate.
This is why I suggested yesterday that you choose ONE of the Oriental countries/cultures to concentrate on and write about how people in that one culture might react to Muslims and Arabs. I still think this assignment includes terms that are much too broad to produce anything more than surface-level ideas -- that is, no depth!
=)
When the assignment asks you to list the characteristics of Orientalism, it is referring to how Arabs and Muslims are often portrayed, described, or perceived in Western societies. It is important to note that Orientalism is a concept that was popularized by the scholar Edward Said, who argued that Western societies often distorted and simplified the cultures, traditions, and identities of people from the "Orient" for their own purposes.
To understand Orientalism better, you can start by reading the definitions and explanations provided in the link given (http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Orientalism.html). This will give you a good foundation in comprehending the concept.
Regarding the description you mentioned about Arabs and Muslims, it is not entirely accurate to equate the two. Arabs are an ethnic group and can refer to anyone who speaks Arabic or has Arabic ancestry. On the other hand, Muslims are people who follow the religion of Islam, and they can come from various ethnic backgrounds, including Arab, Persian, Turkish, African, etc.
The essence of Orientalism is that it often creates a simplified and generalized understanding of Arab and Muslim cultures. It is a tendency to portray them as exotic, backwards, or uncivilized. However, it is crucial to recognize that the Orient encompasses a wide range of countries and cultures, including places like Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan. Therefore, when discussing Orientalism, it is important to avoid assuming that Arabs and Muslims are the sole representatives of the Orient.
Based on the information provided, it seems that your assignment is asking you to choose a specific Oriental country or culture and explore how the people in that culture might react to Muslims and Arabs. This approach allows for a more focused and in-depth analysis, rather than making broad generalizations. By examining the specific dynamics between a particular culture and its perceptions or interactions with Muslims and Arabs, you can gain a more nuanced understanding of Orientalism.