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

Additionally, it could include a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

While demonstrations against the administration persist in American cities, protesters are adopting the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They have taught salsa lessons, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, as armed law enforcement observe.

Combining comedy and political action – a strategy researchers term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in the current era, adopted by various groups.

A specific icon has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It originated after a video of a clash between a man in a frog suit and federal officers in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to protests throughout the United States.

"A great deal going on with that humble inflatable frog," notes an expert, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who studies performance art.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by far-right groups throughout an election cycle.

As this image gained popularity on the internet, its purpose was to express specific feelings. Later, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, including a particular image shared by that figure personally, portraying Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Online conservatives traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was deployed a shared phrase.

However Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he said his drawing was inspired by his time with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to new websites, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, the creator sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that we don't control symbols," says the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

For a long time, the notoriety of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. This shifted in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident followed a decision to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and a officer deployed pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the opening of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and the city, which contended the use of troops was unlawful.

While a judge decided in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes while voicing opposition."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge opined. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was halted by courts subsequently, and personnel withdrew from the area.

However, by that time, the frog had become a potent protest icon for progressive movements.

This symbol was spotted in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. 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 Visual Story

What connects the two amphibian symbols – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" act that highlights your ideas without needing obviously explaining them. This is the unusual prop used, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

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

The theory of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad says.

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