Where have ethics gone today?
In an increasingly connected and fast-paced world, it seems that ethics, that deep sense of right and wrong, is losing ground.
Today we are constantly bombarded with information, news, and opinions, to the point where distinguishing between good and evil, between right and wrong, becomes increasingly difficult.
But why does it seem that ethics are missing?
The answer certainly lies in the way one “learns a trade”, which nowadays is different from a few years ago. The tattoo artist’s profession, par excellence, is a craft.
In the past, this type of work was learned on the job, through an apprenticeship in a workshop, even before studying from books.
Direct contact with the “artisan-teacher” provided the apprentice with both the manual tools to operate and all the “ethical” notions to work without hindering themselves or others.
On the contrary, today we live in an era where everything is accessible with a click: we want immediate answers, instant gratification, and rarely do we rely on the artisan of the moment to learn something.
Instead, it’s more convenient to sit in front of a keyboard, convinced that the information Google provides in a few lines can completely supplant the experience of a person who has dedicated years to learning a trade.
This haste, this need to have everything immediately, often leads to setting aside ethics in the name of efficiency and profit.
A separate note must certainly be dedicated to Social Media. These, which could be powerful tools for connection and awareness, often end up being sources of misinformation and superficiality.
We are all immersed in a culture of appearance, where the image we project matters more than the integrity of our actions.
Vitality has replaced truth, and ethics take a backseat.
Referring back to the discussion above, ethical values were once passed down from generation to generation and represented a cornerstone in our daily lives. Today, however, we are witnessing a crisis of those values that were once considered universal. Exasperated individualism and rampant competition push us to think more about our personal interest than the common good.
Despite everything, however, ethics are not dead.
The responsibility to bring them back to the center of our daily lives rests with each of us. It means making conscious choices, reflecting on the consequences of our actions, and valuing integrity and justice, even when it seems difficult.
The real challenge for your generation is to recognize the importance of ethics in a world that seems to have forgotten them.
It’s time to stop chasing appearances and return to building a society, ours (that of tattoo artists), based on solid principles, where respect, justice, and responsibility are not empty words, but concrete factors that guide our daily lives.
At Milano Tattoo School, a seminar to delve deeper into tattoo ethics
To use a quote, anyone can do tattoos, but not everyone can become a tattoo artist.
With this introduction, we present the first seminar entirely dedicated to the ethical aspect of the tattoo world. It’s called “Daisy Effect”, will take place in November 2024, and will be led by Beppe Lazzari, also known as “Happy Surgeon”, one of the most renowned professionals in the sector.
His resume boasts several participations as a commission member in tattoo courses, he teaches tattoo lessons at the Tiepolo University of Udine, and he was a speaker at the TAC (Tattoo Art Culture) conference in Milan.
What will “Daisy Effect” be about?
From an “unrecognized workshop job,” the tattoo artist’s profession has evolved into a real job, leading institutions to require a specific professional qualification to perform the activity.
Following this, the first ad hoc courses were created, with the aim of training sector operators who had the right technical and instrumental skills to operate safely.
What this seminar aims to achieve is an awareness of the existence of an ethical component of work: all those “unwritten” rules not found in textbooks, but nonetheless fundamental for integrating into a work environment.
The topics covered will be the following:
- Chronology of Tattooing in Modern Times
- Old School Tattoo Artist Vs. New Generation Tattoo Artist
- Behavioral Methods
- Critical Analysis of the Future of Tattooing
- Daisy Effect: What not to do to become a professional tattoo artist