Television Review: Miami Ink
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this show is pro-body art and
doesn't spend a lot of time talking about the risks of getting
a tattoo. Also, a lot of the parlor's clients get tattoos to
memorialize deceased loved ones. Some of their stories are
bittersweet, and younger viewers might find them upsetting. In
one episode, for example, a couple talks about their baby who
died two hours after birth.
Families can talk about tattoos. What are parents' and kids'
opinions on tattoos? If they differ, why? Do people's opinions
about body art tend to change as they get older? Why? Why is
getting a piece of body art a big decision? What are some of
the risks of tattooing?
In MIAMI INK, viewers go behind the scenes with the owners and clients of a South Florida tattoo parlor. Each day the shop's artists -- Ami James, Chris Garver, Chris Nunez, Darren Brass, and Kat Von D -- welcome clients and help them craft a piece of body art that's aesthetically satisfying. Many of the clients' stories will tug at your emotions; others are downright tear-inducing.
Viewers will likely find the shop's owners the most interesting part of the show. They work hard and play hard, often playing practical jokes on each other and ribbing one another the way fraternity brothers do. Lone female Kat sometimes gets in on the action, too, as does apprentice Yoji Harada.
Though the Miami Ink cameras capture the tattoo process, no blood is involved, and only those with the weakest stomachs will want to hide their eyes. The show's producers manage to show the softer side of an art form that's often maligned and misunderstood. That said, some parents may be uncomfortable with the subject matter, which does endorse body art and doesn't dwell on the risks and possible side effects.
The ShopTrick It Out
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