I think the absurd samey-ness of stock photo “art” is a product of brutal artificial selection (or something like that, I’m not stock photologist). Anyone can see which images are the best sellers for each keyword, and the pressure is on to create content that covers the broadest swath of imaginary search terms while looking as similar to the big moneymakers as possible. Thus, the success of a single pioneering “patient-zero” drug zombie photo is probably, appropriately, responsible for the viral outbreak of many others.
I guess it’s the rare, but surprisingly common, kind of memetic spread that hinders creativity instead of fostering it. Think Hollywood and superhero movies.
