My feelings on anthropology and the esoteric nature of its studies

I'm being thrown into anthropology head first with my GPA as a safety net. I've only taken three classes prior to this semester, only dabbling in the lingo and mindset. While I try to think abstractly about culture and the forces of globalization and colonization and the effect of our behavior on the planet, I think in my own way. I'd like to think I have an open mind, and I feel understanding of these global forces would help people understand why things are the way they are, and people would be less likely to judge or have an aggressive stance against others.

Also, because of my film education, I understand the power of the media and the messages it can send. Therefore, I have built a thesis surrounding both, and that is why I want to be a documentary filmmaker. I want others to understand causes and effects of things going on in the world to expand tolerance and acceptance. If every American was forced to watch "Sicko" by Michael Moore, I'm sure (or I'd hope), that they'd have some sense of the problems with the health care system and why there needs to be reform.

However, this semester is wearing me thin. I spend 60% of my week trying to get through readings and questions, and most of hte time I'm cracking a dictionary in order to retain some of the vocabulary so I can at least understand an entire paragraph. When I approached Dr. Durington about these difficulties, and how I wish some of these theories and readings were explained in layman's terms, he replied that this is not a study for layman people.

This is where the line is drawn between my intentions and the basis of the study of anthropology. This is also making me question the entire field. I was lying in bed last night, couldn't sleep, and kept thinking about this semester and how much work I had cut out for me. I was also pondering why this field had to be so esoteric. What is the point of anthropology? Why do we study cultures? Who is this research for?? Do we only study so we can share our knowledge with other anthropologists?

In my mind, anthropology should be used for the benefit of our globally imagined society. We are connected on levels that can now never be broken. Our cultures, families, economies, and political ties are now bounded, yet we are constantly fighting and warring over resources, religion, and race. We hold so many stereotypes and thoughts about people we do not even know. Lines are drawn, not just through country and state boundaries, but through institutionalized behaviors and upbringing. Maybe I'm too optimistic of a person, but I believe if there was more exposure to positive culture instead of cable-news exposure and nightly-news broadcasts of terrorists plotting our death, people would have a different perspective of places half way around the world.
This is why I believe visual anthropology can be the answer. If you want someone (this someone being a "layman" who perhaps thinks that Middle-eastern people should rot in hell) to understand life in another area of the world, what do you think will be more effective? Reading a 40-page article of someone's research that will be completely incoherent to them? Or a video of the Pamir, who are of Middle-Eastern descent, yet do not align themselves with terrorist regimes or dictatorships? People relate to video. We live in a visual culture. I believe that a person is much more likely to be sympathetic and accepting of another culture or set of beliefs if it is materialized in front of them.

Also, the visual allows the subject to have more control over how they are perceived. Yes, the lens refracts reality, and a subject may act differently than they would without the camera there. However, a research paper does not let a person speak for themselves. The researcher is speaking for them and analyzing their culture and behaviors through strictly the lens of the researcher's eye. The visual equalizes power. Editing can be a tricky factor, as that manipulates any sense of reality, but at least the subject is given power by representation of the material self.

In conclusion, I'm at a crossroads with my studies. I want to create films that can expand consciousness of reality and spread tolerance. If anthropology is not about that, and if it's only meant for a particular audience, then maybe this is not the field for me. Or perhaps, it is a signal that I should start a method of my own.