<p>A technique capable of reducing a temperature rise accompanying the heat generation of a polarization control device. A projector comprises an illuminating optical system, an electrooptic device for modulating the light from the illuminating optical system according to image information, a projecting optical system for projecting the modulated light produced by the electrooptic device, and a base frame which is made of a material containing a metallic material and on which a plurality of optical parts arranged in an optical path from the illuminating optical system to the projecting optical system are provided. At least one of the optical parts is a polarization control part including a polarization control element containing an organic material for controlling the polarization of the light emitted and a transparent member having a thermal conductivity of about 0.8 W/(m K) or higher and having the polarization control element adhered thereto. The transparent member and the base frame are thermally connected to each other.</p>
