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This revolution won't be televised, though it may feature webbed feet and large eyes.

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

While demonstrations opposing the leadership continue in American cities, demonstrators have embraced the energy of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, while officers look on.

Mixing comedy and politics – a strategy experts term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of American protest in the current era, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It originated when recordings of an encounter between a protester in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, spread online. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations across the country.

"There's a lot going on with that humble frog costume," says a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to examine protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by extremist movements throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the character first took off on the internet, it was used to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, it was deployed to endorse a candidate, including one notable meme shared by the candidate himself, showing the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives exchanged "unique frog images" and set up digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a shared phrase.

Yet Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

This character debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which follows the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he stated the character was inspired by his experiences with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that creators cannot own symbols," says Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

For a long time, the notoriety of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

The moment occurred shortly after an order to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to gather in droves on a single block, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and a officer used pepper spray at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". However, the video spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.

While a judge decided in October that the president was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, mentioning the protesters' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits when expressing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

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

Yet already, the frog had become a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol was seen nationwide at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and rose in price.

Controlling the Visual Story

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the relationship between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" act that draws focus to your ideas without explicitly stating them. This is the silly outfit used, or the meme you share.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

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