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This revolution may not be televised, yet it might possess amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations against the government carry on in US cities, participants are utilizing the vibe of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement look on.

Combining comedy and politics – an approach experts call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in recent years, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It began when a video of a confrontation between an individual in a frog suit and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. From there, it proliferated to rallies throughout the United States.

"There's a lot at play with that humble blow-up amphibian," notes a professor, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in political performance.

From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to examine demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, a web comic frog embraced by far-right groups during a political race.

As the character gained popularity online, people used it to signal specific feelings. Afterwards, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, even a particular image endorsed by that figure himself, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in offensive ways, as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", became a coded signal.

But the character did not originate so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has stated about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his comic world.

The frog debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which chronicles the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he said his drawing was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It proves the lack of control over imagery," says the professor. "They transform and be repurposed."

For a long time, the association of this meme meant that frogs were predominantly linked to the right. But that changed recently, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

The moment came just days after a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "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 sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, targeting the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for the city, known for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which claimed the deployment was illegal.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion the protesters' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing dissent."

"Some might view this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The order was stopped legally soon after, and troops are said to have left the area.

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

The costume was seen across the country at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was sold out on online retailers, and rose in price.

Controlling the Narrative

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

This approach is based on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to your ideas without explicitly stating them. It's the goofy costume used, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look 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 purpose of this approach is multi-faceted, he explains.

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