In Memoriam: Martin "Marty" Norden

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We regret to announce that Martin "Marty" Norden has passed away after a recent illness. Dr. Norden was a professor in the Department of Communication for over 45 years, and a core faculty member and energetic contributor to the interdisciplinary UMass Film Studies Program.

Marty obtained his PhD in Speech and Dramatic Art from the University of Missouri-Columbia, deepening his interest in radio, TV, and film. He also had a great love of theater, appearing in more than 40 productions with the UMass Amherst and Smith College theater departments, the Amherst-based Story Spinners, and other theater companies. 

As Professor of Communication at UMass Amherst, he taught screenwriting, the history of film, intro to film studies, and other courses. He researched the intersections of film, history, and society: his many interests included the film representation of people with disabilities, the film/TV construction of evil, early women filmmakers and their productions, Disney films, and vintage horror films. His publications appeared in the Journal of Film and Video, Wide Angle, Film & History, Film Criticism, Leonardo, Paradoxa, Offscreen, Millennium Film Journal, Feminist Media Histories, and in numerous anthologies and encyclopedias. His authored books included The Cinema of Isolation: A History of Physical Disability in the Movies (Rutgers University Press, 1994), ReFocus: The Films of Paul Leni (Edinburgh University Press, 2021), and Lois Weber: Interviews (University Press of Mississippi, 2019).

We are grateful to have had the opportunity to know Marty, and to experience his generosity, kindness, and enthusiastic, welcoming spirit. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. 

The Department of Communication is planning a memorial on campus; details are forthcoming.