'Ink Master' has some educational qualities, if you know what to look for.
The Basic Fundamentals of Tattooing
You're not going to see a lot of the finer points of tattooing (or even simple things like how many hours and sessions a bigger piece takes), but for someone who really isn't familiar with the art form at all, TV shows can help familiarize people on a very fundamental level. As crazy as it may be to some folks, there are people watching reruns of Tattoos After Dark who have never seen a tattoo machine before. TV shows can give audiences a very elementary understanding to build on.
Good (& Bad) Tattoo Shop Dynamics
Like just about any business, some tattoo shops function better than others. The interpersonal dynamics of a shop can be just as important as the artwork coming out of it. Although TV shows tend to push negative relationships because they make for better drama, they still often show the familial side of the tattooing industry.
