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The protest movement won't be broadcast, yet it might possess webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

While demonstrations opposing the government carry on in US cities, demonstrators are utilizing the spirit of a local block party. They've provided salsa lessons, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, as police watch.

Mixing humour and political action – an approach researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a defining feature of US demonstrations in the current era, embraced by various groups.

A specific icon has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It began when video footage of a clash between an individual in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to protests throughout the United States.

"There is much going on with that small inflatable frog," says a professor, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies political performance.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to discuss protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by online communities throughout an election cycle.

Initially, when the meme gained popularity online, its purpose was to convey specific feelings. Afterwards, it was utilized to show support for a political figure, including one notable meme shared by the candidate himself, portraying Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, as a historical dictator. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

Yet the character did not originate so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has expressed about his unhappiness for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

This character first appeared in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he stated the character was inspired by his life with companions.

When he began, the artist experimented with sharing his art to the nascent social web, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. When the meme proliferated into the more extreme corners of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows the lack of control over imagery," states Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

Previously, the popularity of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

The moment occurred shortly after a decision to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, near an ICE office.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer used irritant at the individual, aiming directly into the air intake fan of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, saying he had tasted "something milder". However, the video spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that delight in the unusual – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol became part of in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which contended the use of troops was unlawful.

Although a judge decided in October that the president was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing dissent."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "Yet the outcome has serious implications."

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

Yet already, the amphibian costume had become a significant symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume was seen nationwide at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and rose in price.

Mastering the Optics

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the relationship between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that draws focus to your ideas without needing explicitly stating them. This is the unusual prop you wear, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

As protesters take on authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences