With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
USC Misspells Shakespeare On Newly Unveiled Statue
Language is malleable, right? After all, a dictionary doesn't define a word's spelling, it simply gives the most common version of it. Well, how about a name?
UCLA's The Den tweeted Monday morning that a recently unveiled statue at the new $700 million USC Village displays a typo.
USC. The only place in America that can unveil a statue as the centerpiece of a $700 million project and manage to misspell Shakespeare pic.twitter.com/FGsJUyF3Di
— The Den (@uclatheden) August 21, 2017
As the photo shows, a quote at the base of a Queen Hecuba statue unveiled this month as the centerpiece of the school's 1.2 million-square-foot development is attributed to "Shakespear's" Hamlet. The common spelling of the bard's name is "Shakespeare," of course, but don't tell that to USC.
Support for LAist comes from
"To E, or not to E, that is the question," USC said in a prepared statement emailed to LAist.
"Over the centuries his surname has been spelled 20 different ways. USC chose an older spelling because of the ancient feel of the statue, even though it is not the most common form." We wish we could use such logic to squeeze out an A on our term papers.
()
Photos by Clifford Galiher
At the 20-foot tall statue's unveiling on August 17, it was noted that Hecuba, the queen of Troy, would serve as a counterpoint to the Tommy Trojan statue in the university's central quad.
“This is our commitment to all of the women of Trojan Family … who share the same spirit as the majestic queen of Troy,” C.L. Max Nikias, president of USC said at the statue's unveiling, notes USC News. The paper adds that Christopher Slatoff, a Trojan parent, spent two years on the sculpture.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist