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The revolution isn't televised, yet it might possess amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

As demonstrations against the government persist in American cities, participants are adopting the energy of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, as police watch.

Mixing comedy and politics – a strategy social scientists refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a defining feature of American protest in the current era, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It began when video footage of a confrontation between an individual in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, spread online. From there, it proliferated to protests nationwide.

"There is much going on with that humble inflatable frog," notes a professor, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It's hard to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by extremist movements during a political race.

When the meme gained popularity online, people used it to signal specific feelings. Later, it was utilized to show support for a candidate, even one notable meme endorsed by the candidate himself, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, as a hate group member. Users traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

But Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

The frog debuted in an online comic in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. A film, which documents the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he explained the character was inspired by his experiences with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to the nascent social web, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of the internet, the creator sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that we don't control imagery," says the professor. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

Previously, the association of this meme resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted on a day in October, when an incident between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

This incident followed a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate at a specific location, just outside of a federal building.

Tensions were high and a officer deployed pepper spray at the individual, directing it into the opening of the costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, remarking he had tasted "something milder". But the incident went viral.

The frog suit fit right in for the city, renowned for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol was also referenced in a lawsuit between the administration and the city, which claimed the deployment was illegal.

While a ruling was issued that month that the president had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," she opined. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The order was "permanently" blocked soon after, and personnel withdrew from the city.

Yet already, the frog had transformed into a significant anti-administration symbol for the left.

The costume appeared across the country at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – 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 backordered on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" performance that draws focus to your ideas without obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The idea of such tactics is multi-faceted, he explains.

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