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This revolution won't be televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

It also might feature a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

Whilst protests against the administration carry on in American cities, demonstrators are utilizing the energy of a local block party. They've provided salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and ridden unicycles, as police observe.

Mixing levity and politics – a tactic experts call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It originated after video footage of a clash between a protester in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations across the country.

"A great deal at play with that small inflatable frog," states LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to talk about protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by far-right groups during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the character initially spread online, people used it to express specific feelings. Subsequently, its use evolved to show support for a candidate, even a particular image endorsed by that figure personally, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in darker contexts, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became an inside joke.

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

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his distaste for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

Pepe first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he stated the character came from his time with companions.

Early in his career, the artist tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, the creator sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It proves that creators cannot own imagery," explains the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the notoriety of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. This shifted on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment came just days after an order to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to congregate on a single block, just outside of a federal building.

Tensions were high and an agent used irritant at the individual, targeting the opening of the costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, quipped, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which contended the deployment was illegal.

Although a ruling was issued that month that the administration had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning demonstrators' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits when expressing opposition."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber opined. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The order was stopped legally soon after, and personnel withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the frog was now a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was seen across the country at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

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

Controlling the Narrative

What brings both frogs together – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that highlights a cause without needing obviously explaining them. It's the unusual prop used, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

The theory of this approach is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad explains.

As protesters take on a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences