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

This article 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 that supports transitions by engaging imagination. Grounded in a process philosophy, drawing on Vygotsky, it thus demonstrates the transformative power of art. The article 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 that echoes a wider range of classical and contemporary artwork, the article promotes a complex and multilayered reading of art and imagination as part of life in society.