Meaning: The quote "Modernism is typically defined as the condition that begins when people realize God is truly dead, and we are therefore on our own" by Phillip Johnson, an educator, encapsulates a significant aspect of modernist thought. Modernism, as a cultural, artistic, and intellectual movement, emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and had a profound impact on various aspects of society, including literature, art, architecture, and philosophy. At its core, modernism is characterized by a departure from traditional norms and a rejection of established beliefs, often accompanied by a sense of disillusionment and a search for new meaning and purpose in a rapidly changing world.

The notion of "God is truly dead" refers to the existential crisis that emerged in the wake of rapid social, political, and technological changes during the modernist era. This phrase is often attributed to the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who famously proclaimed the death of God as a metaphor for the decline of traditional religious and moral certainties in Western society. The recognition of this "death" marked a pivotal moment in modernist thought, signaling a shift away from the comforting embrace of religious dogma and towards a more secular, human-centered worldview.

In the absence of a transcendent authority or divine guidance, individuals were confronted with the daunting realization that they were "on our own." This acknowledgment of human autonomy and agency became a central theme in modernist discourse, as artists, writers, and thinkers grappled with the implications of a world devoid of absolute truths and external sources of meaning. This existential predicament fostered a spirit of individualism, self-reliance, and a quest for personal authenticity, which are recurring motifs in modernist literature and art.

From a philosophical perspective, the death of God and the subsequent assertion of human autonomy laid the groundwork for existentialist thought, particularly as expounded by thinkers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. Existentialism, a prominent philosophical movement within modernism, emphasized the individual's freedom, responsibility, and the quest for meaning in a seemingly indifferent and absurd universe. This philosophical framework resonated with the broader cultural ethos of modernism, reflecting the prevailing sense of alienation, anxiety, and the quest for authentic existence in an increasingly complex and fragmented world.

In literature, the theme of God's death and humanity's existential solitude found expression in the works of authors such as Franz Kafka, Virginia Woolf, and T.S. Eliot. Their writings often grappled with the disintegration of traditional beliefs and the search for personal significance in a world characterized by uncertainty and upheaval. Similarly, in the visual arts and architecture, modernist movements such as Cubism, Surrealism, and Bauhaus reflected the rupture with convention and the pursuit of new forms of expression that mirrored the disorienting experience of modern life.

It is important to note that the concept of "God is dead" and the associated notion of human autonomy should not be viewed solely in religious terms, but rather as a metaphor for the broader cultural and intellectual shifts that defined the modernist era. The quote by Phillip Johnson succinctly captures the profound impact of this existential awakening on the trajectory of modernist thought and its enduring relevance in shaping our understanding of the modern condition.

In conclusion, Phillip Johnson's quote encapsulates the existential crisis and the assertion of human autonomy that defined modernism as a cultural and intellectual movement. The recognition of the "death of God" and the subsequent realization of human solitude and agency were pivotal in shaping the ethos of modernist thought, influencing literature, art, philosophy, and architecture. This quote serves as a poignant distillation of the profound philosophical and existential implications of modernism, inviting further exploration of its enduring significance in the cultural and intellectual landscape.