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

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

While protests opposing the administration persist in American cities, participants are adopting the spirit of a local block party. They have taught salsa lessons, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, as armed law enforcement observe.

Combining 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 US demonstrations in this period, adopted by various groups.

A specific icon has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It started after video footage of a clash between an individual in a frog suit and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to protests across the country.

"There is much going on with that small frog costume," states LM Bogad, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's challenging to talk about protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a web comic frog embraced by online communities during an election cycle.

As the character gained popularity on the internet, its purpose was to signal certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to endorse a candidate, including a particular image retweeted by that figure personally, portraying the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed an inside joke.

However its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his disapproval for its co-option. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. A film, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his creation, he explained his drawing was inspired by his experiences with companions.

Early in his career, the artist tried sharing his art to new websites, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that creators cannot own imagery," explains the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Previously, the notoriety of Pepe meant that frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred in early October, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

This incident came just days after a directive to send the National Guard to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to congregate at a specific location, near an ICE office.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer deployed a chemical agent at the individual, aiming directly into the opening of the inflatable suit.

The protester, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales". But the incident spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, known for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that embrace the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume was also referenced in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which claimed the deployment overstepped authority.

While a judge decided that month that the president was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire while voicing opposition."

"It is easy to see this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked just a month later, and troops are said to have left the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had transformed into a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

This symbol was seen nationwide at No Kings protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

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

Shaping the Visual Story

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 the professor terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a message without needing explicitly stating them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

The purpose of this approach is three-fold, he says.

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