四、 It isn't meant to be a gloomy or creepy book. The images of Barack Obama withstrangely full lips and long lashes, or the weird morphing of his face and Lincoln's, or thegal in the very short and saucy sweater dress she made that proclaims "My JewishGrandma is voting for Obama, is yours?" are all meant to be positive and inspiring, thevoice of a new generation of artists who feel empowered by the election of the 44thpresident.         But there is something tremendously depressing about the recently published "Art forObama," a survey of images and sculpture produced in support of Obama's 2008 campaignfor president. The gloom sets in slowly, page after colorful page, slogan after inspiringslogan. It is a catalogue of celebratory art, of smiles and hope and change, and somehow, itleaves you with a hollow, panicky feeling in the gut.        The art itself raises many troubling questions. How closely should artists be alignedwith political power? Can they remain artists of substance and integrity if they are on theinside of the halls of power? Can art be channeled by political leaders and remaininteresting art?      More fundamentally, however, is an even deeper question: What is the psychologybehind the new artistic mania for patriotism, once considered suspect or anathema bymany serious artists?（25 分）