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The revolution won't be televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and bulging eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

While demonstrations opposing the administration persist in US cities, participants have embraced the spirit of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, as officers watch.

Combining comedy and political action – a strategy social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in recent years, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It began after recordings of a clash between a protester in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to rallies across the country.

"A great deal happening with that humble frog costume," says a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by online communities during an election cycle.

Initially, when the meme gained popularity on the internet, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Subsequently, it was utilized to show support for a candidate, even a particular image retweeted by the candidate personally, portraying the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in darker contexts, as a historical dictator. Users traded "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed a coded signal.

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

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he explained the character was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist tried sharing his art to the nascent social web, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that we don't control symbols," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Previously, the association of Pepe resulted in frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. But that changed 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 captured global attention.

This incident occurred shortly after a decision to send the National Guard to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, just outside of a federal building.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer sprayed irritant at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". But the incident went viral.

The costume was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which argued the deployment was illegal.

Although the court ruled that month that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire while voicing opposition."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," she wrote. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The action was stopped legally just a month later, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had transformed into a significant protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit was spotted in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

The inflatable suit was sold out on major websites, and rose in price.

Shaping the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that calls attention to your ideas without explicitly stating them. It's the goofy costume you wear, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

The idea of this approach is multi-faceted, he says.

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