Permanent ink.. Permanent prejudice..

Do you watch Miami Ink? I do.. well, not all the timelah but I do enjoy the show. The show is basically about this tattoo parlour in Miami and showcases the tattoo's they do as well as other reality TV stuff.. the fights, the drama and all that. It kind of remind me of American Chopper. Yup, that's it Miami Ink is American Chopper but instead of building bad ass bikes, they etch your skin with permanent ink goodness.

So, what's so great about a story about people and tattoos? Well, tattoos have a bad reputation in most part of the world as well as Malaysia due to its link with the criminal underworld, triad gangs as well as the fact it is haram in Islam. I even saw a police poster telling people to be aware of people with certain criteria and of course tattoo was listed as on of it while in the movie business, the bad guy look is often acheived by putting a scar and a tattoo on the antagonist. So why would Miami Ink be aired, especially on Discovery Travel & Adventure of all channels?

Well, for one I believe the show aims to dispel all this prejudice people have on tattoos and instil a new mindset of the good side of tattoos (there is..). Some might argue what this people are thinking when they get tattoos since it'll last forever. Well, newsflash folks.. these people intent to keep the tatoos forever. Why? Well, as I saw on the show most people who came to the show to make tatoos in rememberance of a dead family member or friend. One girl even did a tattoo made in memory of her dead chinhuahua which all pet owners will know how hard it is to lose a pet. Last night a guy went to get a tattoo of a dragon and a phoenix to symbolize his transformation from being a druggie and homeless into a business person.. Though some might argue, I believe that's a pretty good reason to tattoo yourself.. It's a big acheivement and it's a turning point in his life and he have a right to remember it. It'll also be a reminder to him whenever he had an urge to go back to his old ways.. I was like.. Wow!

We often see tattoo and its artists like Ami and Yoji evil.. but I don't think any man can be all evil as opposed to be all good. There's good and bad in everything and that includes tattoos.

Labels: thoughts, tv