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The resistance isn't broadcast, yet it might possess webbed feet and protruding eyes.

Additionally, it could include a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

Whilst protests against the government continue in American cities, demonstrators are adopting the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided salsa lessons, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, as armed law enforcement watch.

Mixing comedy and politics – a strategy researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of American protest in the current era, embraced by various groups.

A specific icon has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It originated when recordings of a confrontation between a protester in an inflatable frog and federal officers in the city of Portland, spread online. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations nationwide.

"There is much at play with that humble frog costume," says a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies performance art.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to examine protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by extremist movements during an election cycle.

As this image first took off on the internet, people used it to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to endorse a candidate, including one notable meme endorsed by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in offensive ways, as a hate group member. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed a coded signal.

But Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has stated about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

This character debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his creation, he said his drawing was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to the nascent social web, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. 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.

However, its legacy continued.

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

Previously, the association of this meme resulted in frogs were largely associated with the right. This shifted in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

The moment occurred shortly after a directive to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Protesters began to gather in droves at a specific location, just outside of a federal building.

Emotions ran high and a officer used irritant at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the inflatable suit.

The protester, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that revel in the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which claimed the use of troops was illegal.

While a judge decided that month that the president was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," she stated. "Yet the outcome has serious implications."

The action was stopped legally just a month later, and troops withdrew from the area.

However, by that time, the frog had become a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol appeared in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

The frog costume was backordered on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Visual Story

What brings both frogs together – lies in the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that draws focus to a message without needing obviously explaining them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

The idea of this approach is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad explains.

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