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The revolution may not be broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

It also might feature the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

As rallies opposing the government continue in American cities, participants are adopting the vibe of a community costume parade. They've provided salsa lessons, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement watch.

Combining humour and political action – a strategy experts term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by both left and right.

A specific icon has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It began after video footage of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and federal officers in the city of Portland, spread online. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations nationwide.

"There is much going on with that humble inflatable frog," says a professor, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies performance art.

From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's challenging to examine demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by online communities throughout an election cycle.

Initially, when the meme first took off online, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Subsequently, it was utilized to express backing for a candidate, including a particular image retweeted by that figure personally, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Users traded "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became a coded signal.

Yet Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for its co-option. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in his series.

This character debuted in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which follows the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he explained the character came from his life with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to new websites, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of online spaces, the creator sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over imagery," says the professor. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme resulted in frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

The event came just days after an order to send military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, near an ICE office.

The situation was tense and a officer deployed irritant at the individual, directing it into the ventilation of the costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video became a sensation.

The frog suit was not too unusual for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that revel in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

Although the court ruled in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion the protesters' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes while voicing dissent."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The order was stopped legally subsequently, and troops are said to have left the area.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume was now a powerful protest icon for the left.

The costume was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

This item was sold out on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Visual Story

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights your ideas without obviously explaining them. This is the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

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

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