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

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

Whilst protests opposing the government carry on in American cities, demonstrators are adopting the vibe of a community costume parade. They have taught dance instruction, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, while police watch.

Mixing levity and politics – a tactic researchers term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a defining feature of American protest in the current era, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It started after video footage of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, went viral. From there, it proliferated to rallies across the country.

"There is much at play with that little frog costume," says an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in performance art.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It's challenging to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by online communities throughout a previous presidential campaign.

When the meme initially spread online, its purpose was to convey specific feelings. Afterwards, it was utilized to show support for a candidate, including a particular image retweeted by the candidate himself, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

Yet the character did not originate as a political symbol.

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

Pepe debuted in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which follows the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he explained the character was inspired by his time with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to the nascent social web, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that we don't control icons," states Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Previously, the popularity of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. This shifted in early October, when an incident between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment occurred shortly after a decision to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to congregate outside a facility, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, directing it into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

The protester, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, saying it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident went viral.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that embrace the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.

Although a judge decided that month that the president had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, mentioning the protesters' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire when expressing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The action was halted by courts soon after, and troops withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the frog had become a potent anti-administration symbol for the left.

This symbol appeared in many cities 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 big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was backordered on major websites, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Narrative

The link between both frogs together – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a message without directly articulating them. This is the unusual prop used, or the meme circulated.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The theory of such tactics is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad says.

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