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The revolution won't be broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

Whilst rallies opposing the leadership continue in American cities, participants have embraced the vibe of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, distributed treats, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement look on.

Blending comedy and politics – a tactic researchers call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of American protest in recent years, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It originated when recordings of a clash between a protester in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to protests throughout the United States.

"There is much going on with that humble blow-up amphibian," says an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies political performance.

From Pepe to Portland

It's hard to examine protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog adopted by online communities during a previous presidential campaign.

As this image gained popularity online, people used it to convey certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to express backing for a political figure, including a particular image retweeted by that figure himself, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a shared phrase.

Yet the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he stated his drawing was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves that creators cannot own imagery," says the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Previously, the association of Pepe resulted in frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. But that changed in early October, when a viral moment between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

This incident occurred shortly after a directive to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to congregate at a specific location, just outside of a federal building.

The situation was tense and a officer used a chemical agent at a protester, directing it into the air intake fan of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident went viral.

The costume was somewhat typical for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that embrace the absurd – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was illegal.

Although a judge decided that month that the president had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning the protesters' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," she wrote. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was stopped legally soon after, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

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

This symbol appeared in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

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

Shaping the Visual Story

The link between the two amphibian symbols – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights your ideas without directly articulating them. This is the goofy costume used, or the symbol you share.

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

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

When protesters confront the state, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences