Interesting definition of "Vanitas" in my Art History Textbook Glossary

[bgizzles45]

Vanitas: An image, especially popular in Europe during the seventeenth century, in which all the objects symbolize the transience of life. Vanitas paintings are usually of still lifes or genre subjects.

 

[LedxirnSimon]

I think Nomura also said something about it sounding like Ventus that has four letters in each of their names.

 

[Ruran]

Also, "Vanitas" is a feminine word/name.

Yup, Vanitas is an "art form" that represents the transition from life to death, how the two things aren't that different from one another, and how material things inevitably get left behind, thus, making them useless in the grand scheme of things. Taken from Latin it can be translated as "vanity" emphasizing how materiel objects are merely physical things that are used to create a surface perception of one self. It can also be translated as "emptiness" further elaborating on the hollowness of material objects that will mean nothing to us when we all die.

...Or something like that.

Xehanort was probably patting himself on the back thinking he was clever name that poor mofo that.

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

We can also go with it like this: "vanitas" is the latin definition: emptiness, nothingness. Ventus means wind.

Then we have Sora:

ソラ → 空 → そら "sora" commonly means "sky" but can also be read as "kara" から which means "emptiness, vacuum" which...It's freakishly poetic (read: roundabout) way to say that Vanitas is the other side of Ventus...

The art form fact is really interesting, though.

 

[bgizzles45]

Shunyata is a Sanskrit (and Buddhist) term that means Emptiness. In Buddhist terms, emptiness means no boundaries, shape or form. Once you've attained shunyata, you are in in a state of infinity.

Turn the CC on for English translations:

[video=youtube;7ooCodjgjkY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ooCodjgjkY[/video]

 

[Antifa Lockhart]

Yeah, the name Vanitas was a rare slam-dunk from Nomura trying to be clever and it translating well across the board.

 

[ChibiHearts249]

Yeah, the name Vanitas was a rare slam-dunk from Nomura trying to be clever and it translating well across the board.

All the different ways to translate it both literally and symbolically? Or the way Vanitas is similar to Ventus (sharper sounds vs blunted sounds)? Yeah. That was a pretty smooth move on his part. And I'm sure he's noticed how much the fan base loves that kinda stuff as much as him, now!

 

[Joker'sHeartless]

Interesting that vanity is about material possessions. Made me think of the Legend of Korra quote:

"Let go your earthly tether and become wind"
-Guru Laghima

In this case, "earthly tether" refers not to the earth, but to the things that bind us to this world; our material possessions.
Release Vanitas and become Ventus.

 

[Sephiroth0812]

Nomura has a knack for choosing names that are simultaneously puns in japanese and carry a load of symbolism.

There's also the saying "all is vanity and a striving after wind." which going by their names, describes exactly what Vanitas is doing the majority of BBS' plot, namely chasing/striving after Ven.