Know-How Exchange : Student Questions

I am a MA student (media studies) and in the process of deciding on a topic for my thesis. I have always had an interest in the visual aspects of the media, and thus wish to write my thesis within the area of advertising.

There's a museum here in Norway offering master students access to 230 years of material related to Norway's biggest tobacco company. I do not have complete knowledge of what the collection contains, but know that it would provide me with a great deal of, among other things, printed advertisements from 1779 until the production ended in 2009. I am really tempted by this gold mine, and would love to build my thesis around this. However, I am struggling to narrow down my topic and justify it (other than the fact that I would love to go through the collection for my own personal pleasure).

My initial ideas are:
- analysing whether, how and to what extent the advertisements have been influenced by societal changes such as visual trends and/or tobacco research (increasing awareness of health risks resulting in the ban of tobacco advertisements).
- review the way in which the different products are strategically marketed at distinctive target groups, and what techniques have been employed.
- look at how the ads appeal to/create consumer identities.

My problems are thus 1) to decide on one area that I would be able to justify and that would be somewhat innovative (if possible). 2) to find an angle that would be of relevance to the field - maybe it would be possible to draw lines to advertising of other products (fast food, sugary products, polluting products etc.) or advertising strategies in general?

If anyone has any ideas on how I can expand on any of my initial thought/angles or have suggestions to other research questions/topics that could be applied to the collection, I would very much appreciate it!