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The revolution won't be broadcast, but it could have webbed feet and large eyes.

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

Whilst protests opposing the government carry on in American cities, participants have embraced the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered dance instruction, distributed snacks, and ridden unicycles, as police look on.

Combining levity and political action – an approach social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by various groups.

And one symbol has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It started when recordings of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and ICE agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to rallies across the country.

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

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

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

As this image first took off online, it was used to signal specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to show support for a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by the candidate himself, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Users traded "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became a coded signal.

However the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Its creator, the illustrator, has been vocal about his distaste for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he explained his drawing was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

As he started out, the artist tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into the more extreme corners of the internet, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own symbols," says the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

Until recently, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. This shifted recently, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

The event occurred shortly after a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to congregate on a single block, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer deployed irritant at the individual, directing it into the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, stating he had tasted "something milder". Yet the footage went viral.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that delight in the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume became part of in a lawsuit between the administration and Portland, which argued the use of troops overstepped authority.

While a ruling was issued in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "propensity for wearing chicken suits when expressing dissent."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The order was "permanently" blocked soon after, and personnel withdrew from the city.

Yet already, the amphibian costume had transformed into a significant protest icon for the left.

This symbol was spotted in many cities at No Kings protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

The frog costume was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Narrative

What connects the two amphibian symbols – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that calls attention to a cause without obviously explaining them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

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

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