Digital Humanities, Posthumanism, and the Reconfiguration of Identity in Contemporary Arabic Literature: Case Studies of Moussa and The End

This study investigates posthumanist themes in contemporary Egyptian audiovisual narratives, i.e., the film Mousa [25] and the television series The End [34]. It examines how these works decenter human moral authority, foreground vulnerability and imperfection, and reconfigure the ethical and affective roles of technology in shaping identity and agency. Employing qualitative textual and visual analysis, the research combines close readings of pivotal scenes with thematic coding of character interactions, technological interfaces, and narrative structures. Findings reveal that in Mousa, the robot embodies humane values and mediates Yehia’s emotions, enabling moral growth through imperfection and relational engagement. Conversely, The End portrays algorithmic surveillance and robotic replication, exposing the erosion of individuality under institutional control. Together, these narratives illustrate how technology redistributes ethical authority and generates posthuman identities through relational and embodied processes. The study contributes to posthumanist media scholarship by foregrounding Middle Eastern cultural contexts.