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The revolution may not be broadcast, but it could have webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

As demonstrations opposing the government continue in American cities, demonstrators are utilizing the vibe of a community costume parade. They have taught dance instruction, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, as officers look on.

Blending levity and politics – an approach experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a hallmark of American protest in this period, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It started when recordings of a clash between a protester in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to rallies across the country.

"There is much at play with that humble blow-up amphibian," notes LM Bogad, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by far-right groups during a previous presidential campaign.

When the meme gained popularity on the internet, it was used to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, even a particular image endorsed by the candidate himself, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed an inside joke.

Yet the character did not originate this divisive.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his distaste for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he stated his drawing was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of the internet, the creator sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows the lack of control over icons," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the popularity of this meme meant that frogs became a symbol for the right. This shifted on a day in October, when an incident between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

The moment followed an order to send military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to gather in droves outside a facility, near a federal building.

Emotions ran high and an agent used pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

The protester, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, remarking it tasted like "spicier tamales". However, the video became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that delight in the ridiculous – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol even played a role in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which contended the deployment was illegal.

Although the court ruled in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes while voicing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," she opined. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The order was "permanently" blocked just a month later, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

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

The inflatable suit was seen nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was sold out on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Narrative

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that draws focus to a cause without directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop used, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

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

The purpose of this approach is three-fold, he explains.

When protesters confront a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences