On taking a leap of faith: Art, imagination and liminal experiences

This paper argues for the centrality of fiction, imagination and art for psychology and for life in general. It proposes an integrative theoretical framework examining art as liminal experiencing which supports transitions by engaging imagination. Grounded in a process philosophy, drawing on Vygotsky, it thus demonstrates the transformative power of art. The paper offers a close reading of the liminal and transformative properties and contents of Christopher Nolan’s film Inception. Treating the film as a single case study which echoes a wider range of classical and contemporary art work, the paper promotes a complex and multi-layered reading of art and imagination as part of life in society.