Would someone please elaborate on Arab culture?
The Arts in the muslim world are nearly all in the “secondary” or “Decorative Arts” category.
For example, instead of GREAT WRITING, we see great Calligraphy.
Instead of great paintings, there are symmetrical carpets done to a pattern.
Instead of innovative architecture, there is stilted derivative architecture, covered with exquisite mosaics which, is , of course, also done to a strict pattern.
Part of this can be attributed to the Koran’s prohibition against making images of living things, but it may also be because of Islam’s communal and conforming nature.
It is the nature of the true artist to WANT to rise above the crowd. This desire pushes the artist to ever increasing levels of creativity and expertise until he finally bursts forth with something that generations will cherish.
The closest thing in the Islamic world to that would be the Taj Mahal, which like nothing else in that genre, was motivated by LOVE.