A projector according to the present technology includes a blower mechanism, a liquid crystal lightbulb, a light-incident-side polarization plate, and a light-emitting-side polarization plate. The blower mechanism generates a cooling wind. The light-incident-side polarization plate includes a plurality of wires formed to extend non-parallel to the cooling wind blown by the blower mechanism and is arranged on a light-incident side of the liquid crystal lightbulb. The light-emitting-side polarization plate includes a plurality of wires formed to extend non-parallel to the cooling wind blown by the blower mechanism and is arranged on a light-emitting side of the liquid crystal lightbulb.