The role of imagination in protest.

The article focuses on the role of imagination in protest, arguing that effective protests function not only as speech acts condemning social or political injustices but also as theatrical spectacles that break norms to spark what is termed "transcendent imagining." This form of imagining allows audiences to envision socio-political realities without oppressive norms, thereby enabling creative possibilities for social change. Through examples such as the public burning of hijabs in Iran and disruptive environmental protests, the article illustrates how spectacular protests engage audiences emotionally and imaginatively, making entrenched norms visible and contestable. It further contends that such protests can reach audiences who are unreflective, oppressed, or resistant due to self-interest, by revealing the constructed nature of social norms and empowering new forms of agency.