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

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

Whilst protests against the administration carry on in American cities, demonstrators have embraced the spirit of a community costume parade. They've provided dance instruction, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, as police look on.

Blending levity and political action – a tactic researchers call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a hallmark of US demonstrations in this period, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It originated when a video of a clash between an individual in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, spread online. And it has since spread to rallies throughout the United States.

"A great deal at play with that humble frog costume," says LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies performance art.

The Path From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by far-right groups throughout a political race.

When the meme gained popularity online, its purpose was to signal specific feelings. Later, its use evolved to endorse a candidate, including a particular image retweeted by the candidate personally, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was deployed an inside joke.

Yet the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Its creator, the illustrator, has been vocal about his disapproval for its co-option. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

The frog debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. A film, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his creation, he explained his drawing was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to the nascent social web, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of online spaces, the creator attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that creators cannot own icons," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the notoriety of this meme meant that frogs became a symbol for the right. A transformation occurred in early October, when a confrontation between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

This incident occurred shortly after an order to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and an agent used pepper spray at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, quipped, saying it tasted like "spicier tamales". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that delight in the ridiculous – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which claimed the use of troops overstepped authority.

Although the court ruled in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The order was "permanently" blocked soon after, and personnel are said to have left the area.

But by then, the frog was now a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume appeared in many cities at No Kings protests that fall. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

This item was sold out on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" performance that highlights a message without obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume used, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

The idea of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

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