by Terry A. Rustin

About the author: Terry A. Rustin is an assistant professor at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston.

The tobacco companies have been analyzing your fantasies, and they want you to know that, whatever your fantasy, cigarettes should be a part of it. Whether you want to be strong or sexy, independent or gregarious, Philip Morris, RJR Nabisco, Lorillard and American Brands are eager to help you.

The tobacco companies promote specific images and lifestyles to help convince current smokers to switch brands, former smokers to resume their addiction and young people to begin smoking for the first time. Advertisements over the years have featured sports heroes, movie stars, doctors, babies, horses and cowboys, among others, to promote cigarettes to different demographic groups.

Five of the most...