Audiovisual Construction of Migration Trauma: A Socio-Aesthetic Analysis of the Tunisian Series Harga

Faten Ridene

doi:10.5195/cinej.2026.815

Audiovisual Construction of Migration Trauma: A Socio-Aesthetic Analysis of the Tunisian Series Harga

Authors

Faten Ridene Institut Supérieur des études Appliquées en Humanité Le Kef-Univerisité de Jendouba-Tunisie https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5202-427X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2026.815

Keywords:

audiovisual realism, migration trauma, testimonial aesthetics, spectatorship, Tunisian television drama

Abstract

This article examines the Tunisian television series Harga through a socio-aesthetic approach focused on the audiovisual construction of migration trauma. Moving beyond a solely reception-based perspective, the study analyzes how the series mobilizes realist aesthetics, testimonial performances, underwater cinematography, and immersive sound design to produce emotional identification and ethical spectatorship. Through close analysis of selected sequences, the article explores the hybridization of fiction and lived testimony, particularly through the inclusion of real victims of irregular migration alongside professional actors. The study argues that Harga constructs migration not only as a social issue but also as a sensory and affective experience shaped through cinematic form. Audience reception data are mobilized to support the analysis of the series’ emotional and cultural resonance.

Author Biography

Faten Ridene, Institut Supérieur des études Appliquées en Humanité Le Kef-Univerisité de Jendouba-Tunisie

Assistant Professor in audiovisual and film studies in the University of Jendouba Tunisia
Member of the university council elected for the 2024-2027 mandate-University of Jendouba-Tunisia
Member of the International Ranking Committee-University of Jendouba-Tunisia
Laureate of the First Award for the Best Critical Study of a Very Short Film organised by the Higher Institute of of Art Criticism-Academy of Art Egypt and the International festival of Very Short Film Festival of Cairo Egypt Octobre 2024
Laureate of the Shoman International Prize for Arab Researchers in Film Studies Session 2022
Permanent member of the Arab Democratic Center Berlin-Germany
Keen on Cinema, its theories, schools, history, and immersive didactics to teach it
Editor and evaluator in numerous International Scientific Journals
President of two international conferences (Cinema and Pandemic/Migration towards immersive didactics)
Chairwoman of the Scientific committee in four international conferences (2022-Rythm in the concept of audiovisual Arts)/(The encounter between Identity and Innovation: an explosive break of creativity-June 2024)/(The Animation Art in Africa and Arab Countries: From the Beginning(s) to the Present: Challenges and PerspectivesFrom the Beginning(s) to the Present: Challenges and Perspectives October 2024)/ (Travelling in the arts: Aesthetic approaches towards travelling in the arts between spaces, identities and styles-2025)
Author of three books: (Censorship Rate Variance/Making of Making re-live/La famille Samama: Pionniers du Cinéma Tunisien)
Coordinator and editor of four collective books
Film critic and Keynote speaker in several international conferences and platforms
Quadrilingual (Arabic, French, English, Italian)

References

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Published

2026-10-15

How to Cite

Ridene, F. (2026). Audiovisual Construction of Migration Trauma: A Socio-Aesthetic Analysis of the Tunisian Series Harga. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 14(2), 538–583. https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2026.815

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Vol. 14 No. 2 (2026): Fall

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Articles

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