PROJECTOR AND OPTICAL MEMBER USED IN PROJECTOR

There is provided a projector reduced in light quantity loss due to passage through a polarizing element and capable of achieving a projected image retaining a desired hue. A projector of the present invention includes: a color separation optical system configured to separate light from a light source into red light, green light, and blue light; light modulation apparatus configured to modulate each of the red light, the green light, and the blue light in accordance with image information to generate image light; a color composition optical system configured to composite the image light of the modulated red light, the image light of the modulated green light, and the image light of the modulated blue light; a projection optical system configured to project the composited image light; and a retardation element and a polarizing element, which are arranged between the color composition optical system and the projection optical system in the stated order from a color composition optical system side. The retardation element is configured to align a polarization direction of the composited image light to a direction substantially parallel to a transmission axis direction of the polarizing element.