The truth is that when we started learning cartooning by following the work of the masters of that time, the meaning and purpose of cartoons were much clearer than they are today.
A cartoon was a cartoon in its true sense. In those days, people did not use the idea of breaking the borders between different art forms as an excuse to present almost anything as a cartoon to artists and audiences.
I learned by studying the works of Master Javad Alizadeh. Later, I studied the works of great artists such as Sempé, Claude Serre, Quino, Mordillo, Kosobukin, Zlatkovsky, Steadman, Brad Holland, Panapai and… What I had heard about cartoons was clear to me because I could see it in their work.
Cartoons spoke to their audiences clearly and honestly.
They did not make simple ideas unnecessarily complicated.
Cartoons were either editorial cartoons with dialogue or cartoons without words. They could be funny, dark, gentle, sharp, sweet, or bitter. Whatever their style, they were still cartoons. They were simple, easy to understand, and had a strong effect on their audiences.
Things were not like today. Now, in the name of breaking the borders between art forms, we see works in competitions and award lists that are difficult to understand. Sometimes, it is not even clear what kind of art they belong to.
It seems that some judges believe that the less understandable a work is, the greater their achievement will be. They expect people to say: “Wow! What a knowledgeable and talented group of judges!”
Perhaps some judges give awards to works simply because they do not understand them. In this way, they try to make their results look special and important.
You have probably heard the famous story by Hans Christian Andersen. If you do not remember it, let me tell it again.
Once upon a time, a king ordered someone to make the most beautiful clothes for him. A clever and dishonest tailor promised to make clothes that only wise and worthy people could see.
The tailor made an imaginary outfit for the king. The king and his ministers could not see any clothes, but they were afraid of looking foolish or unworthy. So, they praised the tailor and his work.
On the day of the celebration, the king walked among his people without any clothes. The people also praised his imaginary outfit because they did not want to look foolish or blind.
This is exactly what happens with some festival judges today!
Some judges do not have the knowledge or skills needed to judge artworks. They choose works that have no real artistic value. The more we look at them, the less we understand!
Festival organisers are like the poor king in Andersen’s story. They are afraid of being seen as uneducated or ignorant. Many audiences are also like the people at the celebration. They praise these works because they want to appear knowledgeable and educated, even though they know that what they are looking at makes no sense.
At the same time, this situation creates a trend among cartoonists who are looking for awards and attention. They change their styles according to what judges want. They follow every new trend and start producing these unclear works.
As a result, the quality of festival cartoons becomes lower and lower.
By the way, at the end of Andersen’s story, a child in the crowd shouts:
“But the king is wearing nothing!”
At that moment, people realise that they were right from the beginning. There are no clothes at all!
And now, at the end of my article, I would like to say: If we also shout like that child after the results of a cartoon festival are announced, I hope nobody takes it personally!
https://en.cartoonmag.com/single-page-72/
"Crear, pensar y vivir con humor".