A projector is provided with a thermally conductive board-like member; a light emitting element arranged on the board-like member for emitting light; a bending member for bending the light from the light emitting member in a direction parallel to the board-like member; a modulating element for modulating the light bent by the bending member; and a polarizing/separating element for bending the light modulated by the modulating element in a direction to be separated from the board-like member.