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The revolution may not be televised, yet it might possess amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

Additionally, it could include a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

While demonstrations against the leadership persist in American cities, protesters are utilizing the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered dance instruction, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, as officers observe.

Combining comedy and politics – a strategy researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of American protest in the current era, adopted by both left and right.

A specific icon has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It originated when a video of a clash between a protester in a frog suit and federal officers in the city of Portland, went viral. From there, it proliferated to rallies across the country.

"There's a lot happening with that small inflatable frog," notes an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on performance art.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It is difficult to examine demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by far-right groups throughout a previous presidential campaign.

As the character initially spread online, people used it to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, including a particular image endorsed by the candidate personally, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed an inside joke.

Yet Pepe didn't start out as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its co-option. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he stated his drawing came from his experiences with companions.

Early in his career, the artist tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator tried to disavow the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that we don't control icons," says Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme meant that frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. But that changed in early October, when a confrontation between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

This incident occurred shortly after a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to congregate outside a facility, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and a officer used a chemical agent at the individual, directing it into the air intake fan of the puffy frog costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, quipped, remarking it tasted like "spicier tamales". However, the video spread everywhere.

The costume was not too unusual for the city, known for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog even played a role in a lawsuit between the administration and the city, which argued the deployment was unlawful.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire when expressing opposition."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "But today's decision has serious implications."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and personnel have reportedly departed the area.

Yet already, the frog had transformed into a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume was spotted nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

This item was sold out on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Visual Story

What connects both frogs together – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a message without directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop used, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The purpose of such tactics is multi-faceted, he says.

As activists confront a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences