TheCompoundWord

TheCompoundWord, frequently abbreviated as TCW, is an humor and satire magazine started at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Founding of TCW

Originally conceived in circa 1999 (although current staffers cite conception dates going back decades) as a purely reactionary taunt directed at what the founders perceived to be an overly cautious and un-funny journalism climate, the original founders of TCW were cast-offs from existing student publications such as The Declaration, The Yellow Journal, and The Cavalier Daily. The founders (all men) intended to create a publication that, in the words of founder Mark Grabowski "would make us laugh and piss everyone else off."

The genesis of TheCompoundWord is a superb example of college humor journalism in general. The magazine was initially self-published, with each writer contributing whatever pocket money he could spare; meetings were held in squalid student houses and dorm rooms with sneakers on sofas and notes scribbled in felt marker on legal pads, and frequently degenerated into existential arguments or recitations. However poorly-organized this format, it provided a method of deciphering the cacophony of modern university society and pop-culture, and in turn distilling these things down to their most basic element: humor. U.Va, and in fact the vast majority of US colleges and universities, have spawned numerous student-run humor magazines under similar conditions; some, such as U.Va's The Yellow Journal, and Harvard's Lampoon, have lasted for a great number of years, while most fizzle out as interest wanes.

Absence of Women Writers

TheCompoundWord was notable in the nearly complete absence of women writers, a problem common with many other small, irreverent groups. Some have argued that, while women can frequently be funny, integrating the two genders into a functional writers meeting proves more difficult than simply maintaining a unisex staff. Others have said that women, in general, are for some reason largely incapable of writing good, biting satire (at least at the college level). Indeed, Jack Rychak, Editor-in-Chief from 2000-05, recalls being deluged with "completely unfunny" articles about Care Bears, Barbie dolls, and nail polish from prospective female staffers. The current incarnation of TCW retains a masculine core, with several female auxiliary staffers; whether TCW will be able to fully integrate women remains to be seen.

TCW's niche

TheCompoundWord fills an interesting niche in a region with a long tradition of good satire. The University of Virginia was founded by Thomas Jefferson, who was frequently disturbed by the pranks and hi-jinks his students devised. In the early years of the University, satirical broadsheets, produced by students, were commonly circulated to protest an unpopular faculty or an unfavorable sports outcome. In the early 1900's, a group of students brought The Yellow Journal, which then existed at several other southern universities, to U.Va. This was to be the longest-running (though not continuously) humor and satire publication at the University, and its demise in 1999 directly contributed to the formation of TheCompoundWord. Many other student produced satire magazines and 'zines can be found in the Charlottesville area, which may be seen as testament to the city's seditious coolness. The vast majority of these are one-time only runs, or publications that cease with waning interest, although TCW remains a bullward in the field.