Final answer:
Although culture is absorbed unconsciously through enculturation, deliberate study is often needed to truly understand and reflect on one's own culture. This can be enlightened by studying other cultures and recognizing the significance of our own cultural practices and beliefs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that understanding one's own culture normally requires no additional study brings attention to a common misconception. In reality, while some cultural understanding is absorbed unconsciously, there's much about our own culture that goes unexamined without deliberate study. The process of enculturation—how we naturally acquire our own culture—can blind us to its intricacies. For a deeper understanding, one must actively learn about and reflect on their culture, often in comparison to others.
Studying other cultures provides insight into the implicit biases and practices of our own culture, allowing us to recognize and appreciate cultural diversity. A student's exclamation upon seeing their culture represented in an art textbook highlights the profound experience of consciously connecting with one's culture in a structured learning context. Therefore, additional study can deepen our understanding of our own cultural norms, beliefs, and values which we might otherwise take for granted.