🔗 Share this article

The revolution won't be televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and bulging eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

Whilst rallies opposing the administration persist in American cities, participants have embraced the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They have taught salsa lessons, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, while armed law enforcement watch.

Blending comedy and politics – an approach researchers term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a defining feature of American protest in this period, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It started when a video of a confrontation between an individual in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations throughout the United States.

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

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by online communities during an election cycle.

When this image initially spread online, people used it to express specific feelings. Afterwards, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, even one notable meme retweeted by the candidate personally, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became a coded signal.

Yet the character did not originate so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

This character first appeared in an online comic in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he explained his drawing was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with sharing his art to new websites, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie tried to disavow the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that we don't control symbols," says Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

For a long time, the association of this meme resulted in frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. But that changed on a day in October, when an incident between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

This incident came just days after a decision to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Protesters began to congregate at a specific location, near a federal building.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer deployed pepper spray at the individual, targeting the opening of the costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking he had tasted "something milder". But the incident became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, known for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that delight in the unusual – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which contended the use of troops was illegal.

Although the court ruled that month that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," she wrote. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The action was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and personnel are said to have left the area.

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

The inflatable suit was seen across the country at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Narrative

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that highlights your ideas without needing directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

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

The theory of such tactics is multi-faceted, he says.

As protesters take on authority, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences