Abbas Naaseri / In football refereeing, the only criterion is whether the ball crosses the goal line. Now, whether this ball accidentally hits a player’s leg near the post, is a header, comes from a set piece, a thunderous strike from past the midfield, or a direct cross from a corner kick; whether it’s an overhead bicycle kick or an own goal; whether it crosses the line by just one centimeter or rips the net apart… in all these cases, it counts as only one goal. The manner and quality of the goal have zero bearing on its recognition—a goal is simply a goal.
Sure, when a particularly stunning ball hits the net, the referee might secretly think to themselves, “Bravo, what a spectacular goal!” But as far as the referee’s official ruling goes, a goal is just one goal, end of story… The referee’s personal taste has no effect on whether it is accepted or disallowed.
In artistic judging, however, results are undeniably driven by the personal tastes of the judges to a large extent. An artist participating in a festival faces a daunting task in trying to create a piece that appeals to the tastes of every single judge—a feat that is sometimes virtually impossible.
There are differences in conceptual tastes and even technical preferences… and this may well be one of the reasons behind the shifting styles and evolution of artistic works. If minimalist, linear works win awards in festivals for a while, the art form gradually moves toward simplicity. Conversely, if painters dominate the results for a time, cartoon art leans toward rich coloration and realism.
If humorous pieces take center stage, cartoon art shifts toward pure comedy; if philosophical and surreal pieces dominate, it leans toward a more philosophical direction.
Unfortunately, it makes no difference how professional or superficial the judging panel is. Personal taste is a natural factor in selecting works.
The imposition of these personal preferences has given rise to this cancer in the world of cartoon art.
It is no longer like the distant past, where cartoonists maintained a consistent conceptual and execution style from the inception of their artistic careers to the end, becoming renowned for that singular identity.
I do not view these changes as inherently good or bad. The purpose of this piece is neither to condemn nor endorse them; in fact, such shifts may at times have been necessary in the history of cartooning. What concerns me is the sheer speed of these changes—it has accelerated to a point where artists, judges, and audiences alike are left bewildered. May fortune favor this art form and its creators.
Stay tuned with us in the coming weeks as we continue this discussion.
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Weekly Single Page of Cartoonmag
No 68
Saturday , 03 October 2026
This single page has been prepared to remind the news and calls published on the cartoon magazine website and it is supposed to be published every Saturday.
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