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

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

While rallies against the leadership continue in American cities, protesters have embraced the vibe of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, distributed treats, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement watch.

Blending comedy and politics – an approach researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of American protest in the current era, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It originated after video footage of a clash between an individual in an amphibian costume and federal officers in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations nationwide.

"A great deal at play with that small inflatable frog," states a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies creative activism.

From Pepe to Portland

It is difficult to discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by extremist movements during an election cycle.

Initially, when this image initially spread on the internet, people used it to signal specific feelings. Afterwards, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, even a particular image shared by the candidate personally, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, as a historical dictator. Participants traded "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

Yet the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his distaste for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

Pepe first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he said the character was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

As he started out, the artist experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. When the meme proliferated into the more extreme corners of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that creators cannot own imagery," explains the professor. "They transform and be repurposed."

For a long time, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. But that changed on a day in October, when a confrontation between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

This incident occurred shortly after a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to congregate at a specific location, near a federal building.

The situation was tense and an agent deployed pepper spray at the individual, directing it into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The protester, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage went viral.

The frog suit fit right in for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that embrace the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which claimed the deployment was unlawful.

Although a judge decided in October that the administration had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," she stated. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked soon after, and troops withdrew from the city.

But by then, the frog had become a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume was seen across the country at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

The inflatable suit was backordered on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Narrative

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to a message without needing explicitly stating them. This is the goofy costume you wear, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

As protesters confront authority, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences