Revival (A film by Tazuo Yamaguchi)
Revival is a documentary film, filmed, directed, and edited in 2024 by Tazuo. It documents The M.A.T.S.U. project, where Tazuo facilitated community groups in Butte County, California, to Make Art Together Supporting Unity. Using group writing, performance poetry, storytelling, visual art, sculpture, film arts, voice acting, music production, claymation, cut-out animation, and multimedia high-tech filmmaking as forms of artistic expression, the project provided participants with creative outlets to heal from public health issues, including trauma caused by natural disasters, global pandemics, and mental health challenges stemming from personal, family, and social struggles.
By creating art together, participants had the opportunity to gain self-knowledge, view different perspectives, and express themselves in a safe, open, and expansive environment. The M.A.T.S.U. project was an overwhelming success and served as a powerful initial experience to further implement and explore the use of arts and technology in communities and education. Its goal was to benefit and advance the quality of life on the planet.
Tazuo Yamaguchi, MA, is a multidisciplinary multimedia artist who has collaborated with world-class entertainment and high-tech companies such as Lucasfilm LTD, Microsoft Corporation, Apple Computers, and many more. He has worked nationally with major universities, K-12 schools, and social organizations, implementing education through the arts.
For over two decades, Tazuo Yamaguchi has been inspiring, entertaining, educating, and empowering individuals of all ages and backgrounds. He utilizes performance poetry, music, visual storytelling, traditional and digital animation, illustration, directing, voice acting, painting, fantastical character and creature concept development, cartooning, and multimedia digital film arts. Tazuo applies the power of fine arts as a vehicle for learning, integrating them into the educational process to foster self-awareness and knowledge in his students. He is internationally recognized, published, and highly awarded as a performance poet.
As one of the top art integrators in the United States, Tazuo believes we are living in one of the most exciting times, where the arts and technology serve as vehicles for learning and self-connection. He emphasizes the importance of expressing individuality and originality through the arts while connecting globally through technology. This vision lies at the heart of a global culture that provides perspective and meaning to our lives.
Tazuo holds a bachelor's degree in media arts, combined with psychology (cognition and learning), and a master's degree in education with an emphasis on integrating technology and fine arts within the California State Art Guidelines. He is a two-time worldwide performance haiku champion and a master of the ancient Japanese form of poetry. Having performed globally, led numerous empowering educational workshops and residencies, and authored published works, Tazuo continues to share his expertise and passion for creative expression.
“The arts have always been a way for me to apply creativity and express my imagination to overcome adversity and childhood trauma. Poetry and visual storytelling revealed who I truly was after my father passed and I recovered from a life-threatening illness.”
Tazuo has received numerous grants and awards from high-tech companies and art councils, including IBM, AT&T, Butte County Office of Education, and most recently, Upstate California Creative Corps and the California Arts Council. He has integrated visual art, traditional and digital animation, music, and voice acting to create transformative art experiences. These programs have helped people of all ages and backgrounds heal from trauma caused by natural disasters and public pandemics, enabling participants to gain self-knowledge, learn life skills, and become media literate.
Popology Academy™ West Coast
Tazuo currently serves as the creative lead for Popology Academy™ on the West Coast in Northern California. Being a Popologist™ he views the Popology™ platform as an incredible medium for developing students' voices by leveraging social media to communicate honestly, directly, and from an informed standpoint.
This approach makes it socially acceptable and ‘cool’ for youth to express themselves locally and globally, empowering them to communicate uniquely, authentically, and with compassion and intelligence. Through this platform, students become respectful, responsible, and well-mannered digital content creators.
With his extensive background in integrating arts and technology as tools for learning, Tazuo envisions Popology™ as an integrated social media digital communication tool to enhance classroom experiences. It provides a safe, technologically advanced platform that makes teaching information and media literacy more engaging and effective for both educators and students.
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