Exploring the Evolution of the Poetics of Imagination: From Collective Imagination to Subject-Centered Imaginings

The primary aim of this article is to examine the conditions, in which the process of imagination unfolds, in order to better understand its authenticity, internal meaning, and essence. In this regard, I will explore the fundamental definitions and theories of imagination from the perspective of the main theorists in this field, particularly within the context of French imagination theories. The concept and definition of imagination will be presented from the viewpoints of theorists such as Henri Corbin, Jean-Paul Sartre, Gaston Bachelard, Gilbert Durand, Jean Borges, and Jacques Lacan. Furthermore, I will demonstrate the connections, similarities, and distinctions among these scholars' views in the terms of imagination and poetics. These thinkers' ideas can be conceptualized as a triangular structure, with each vertex representing a distinct differentiation: one vertex encompasses the concept of consciousness (Sartre), another comprises the concept of individual and collective unconsciousness (Freud and Jung), and the third vertex embodies the notion of spirituality, rooted in a definition derived from Shia Islamic thought, intertwined with a fusion of Western thinking (Henri Corbin). Thus, I aim to review each of these theorists and subsequently highlight the position they have occupied within the domain of imagination. In this respect, the article will address two parallel questions from the viewpoints of the above scholars: according to the theorists, what is the definition of imagination? And how do they define poetics from their respective perspectives? Employing an analytical-descriptive approach, this article seeks to introduce these theoretical frameworks within the domain of imagination studies, thereby bringing the reader's creative imagination closer to the creative imaginative dimensions within the text.