"Eraserhead," directed by David Lynch

Movie, 1977

Eerie characters, settings, situations and morality. Everything in this tale of domestic life is eerie. Horrific at times - most of the time - but stylistically and surrealistically so, through hissing radiators, apparitions, deformed dancers, even more deformed babies and a cast of gruesome characters. This is a film worth enduring, though it truly is a test of endurance, showcasing themes and motifs played out in the director's later works. Not enjoyable as such, but hugely perplexing and there's no doubting the power of a dark imagination is truly at work.

"Our Sister Killjoy", by Ama Ata Aidoo

Novel, 1977

Part verse, part epistolary narrative of Ghanian women who are puzzled and appalled when taken on a trip around the First World. While the narrative and structure make this quite a tricky book to follow, the conflicts and juxtapositions between socio-economic forces and behaviours make a case for respecting and appreciating the role of Africa in the development of the world. Places and sentiments leap out at times but are mired at others, with the different sections of this short book apparently quite arbitrary. An interesting, instructive read however - not only for the different perspective, but also for the variations and use of different forms.