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

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

As demonstrations opposing the government continue in American cities, demonstrators are utilizing the spirit of a community costume parade. They have taught dance instruction, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, as police observe.

Combining comedy and politics – a strategy researchers call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a hallmark of US demonstrations in recent years, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It began when video footage of a clash between a protester in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"There's a lot happening with that little blow-up amphibian," says LM Bogad, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who studies political performance.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by online communities during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when this image gained popularity on the internet, it was used to signal certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to express backing for a political figure, even one notable meme retweeted by the candidate himself, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Online conservatives traded "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was deployed an inside joke.

But its beginnings were not this divisive.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has been vocal about his disapproval for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

This character debuted in an online comic in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he said the character came from his time with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that we don't control symbols," states the professor. "They transform and be reworked."

Previously, the association of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with the right. A transformation occurred in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The moment occurred shortly after a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to gather in droves on a single block, just outside of a federal building.

The situation was tense and an agent sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, targeting the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

The protester, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales". But the incident spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that delight in the absurd – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog was also referenced in a lawsuit between the administration and the city, which argued the deployment was illegal.

Although a judge decided in October that the administration had the right to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "propensity for wearing chicken suits while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," she stated. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The action was stopped legally soon after, and troops have reportedly departed the city.

However, by that time, the frog was now a powerful symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

This item was in high demand on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Narrative

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

This approach rests on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" act that draws focus to a cause without obviously explaining them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The idea of such tactics is multi-faceted, he explains.

As activists confront a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences