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The protest movement isn't televised, though it may feature webbed feet and large eyes.

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

As rallies against the administration continue in American cities, protesters are adopting the energy of a local block party. They've provided dance instruction, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, while officers look on.

Blending levity and political action – a strategy social scientists refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of American protest in this period, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It began after video footage of an encounter between an individual in a frog suit and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. And it has since spread to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"There's a lot at play with that humble frog costume," states a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in creative activism.

From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's challenging to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by extremist movements throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the meme initially spread on the internet, people used it to convey specific feelings. Subsequently, it was utilized to endorse a candidate, even a particular image endorsed by that figure personally, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became a shared phrase.

However its beginnings were not so controversial.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his disapproval for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his comic world.

The frog debuted in an online comic in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. A film, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he stated his drawing was inspired by his time with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As Pepe spread into darker parts of online spaces, the creator tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows the lack of control over icons," says Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the notoriety of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. But that changed in early October, when a viral moment between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The event occurred shortly after a directive to send military personnel to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to gather in droves outside a facility, just outside of an ICE office.

The situation was tense and a officer used irritant at a protester, targeting the opening of the costume.

The individual, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking it tasted like "something milder". However, the video spread everywhere.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that embrace the unusual – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog was also referenced in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which claimed the use of troops was illegal.

Although a ruling was issued that month that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes when expressing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge stated. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The order was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and personnel withdrew from the area.

Yet already, the amphibian costume had become a powerful anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

This symbol was seen nationwide at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was backordered on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Visual Story

What brings the two amphibian symbols – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a cause without needing obviously explaining them. It's the unusual prop used, or the meme you share.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. 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 express dissent a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

When activists take on authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences