🔗 Share this article

This revolution may not be televised, though it may feature webbed feet and large eyes.

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

Whilst rallies opposing the government carry on in American cities, demonstrators have embraced the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, while officers look on.

Combining comedy and political action – an approach experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of protests in the United States in recent years, adopted by various groups.

A specific icon has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It originated when a video of an encounter between a protester in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations nationwide.

"There's a lot going on with that small blow-up amphibian," states an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on performance art.

From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by far-right groups during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the meme gained popularity online, people used it to signal specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to express backing for a candidate, even one notable meme endorsed by the candidate personally, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

Yet the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

Pepe debuted in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he stated the character was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of the internet, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over symbols," says the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Previously, the association of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted recently, when a confrontation between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland spread rapidly online.

This incident followed a decision to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and a officer sprayed irritant at the individual, targeting the air intake fan of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, saying it tasted like "something milder". But the incident went viral.

The costume fit right in for the city, known for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that embrace the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which claimed the deployment overstepped authority.

While a ruling was issued in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes when expressing their disagreement."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The action was "permanently" blocked soon after, and personnel withdrew from the city.

Yet already, the frog had transformed into a potent symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The costume appeared nationwide at No Kings protests that fall. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Narrative

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the relationship between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" performance that draws focus to a message without needing obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The theory of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad says.

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