My point here being - the images are synthetic. Not questioning their utility to the article, quality, or other aesthetics. It's a challenge to the intent to use synthetic imagery while writing against getting too much used to synthetic text (and the lack of personal craft in it).

Does the author fail to recognize his own actions, is this failure on his part or a reinforcement of his fears...? Perhaps not a complete contradiction to his general thesis.

I don't personally like the images. I think he could've put together some sort of collage that would go along better.