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This revolution won't be broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

Additionally, it could include a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

As rallies opposing the government persist in American cities, participants are utilizing the energy of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, as armed law enforcement watch.

Blending comedy and political action – a tactic social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of American protest in this period, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It originated after recordings of a confrontation between a man in an amphibian costume and federal officers in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to rallies nationwide.

"A great deal going on with that little blow-up amphibian," says an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in performance art.

From Pepe to Portland

It is difficult to examine demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by online communities during an election cycle.

When the meme initially spread online, people used it to signal certain emotions. Afterwards, its use evolved to show support for a political figure, including a particular image retweeted by the candidate personally, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users traded "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed an inside joke.

But Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

This character first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he stated his drawing was inspired by his life with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to the nascent social web, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows the lack of control over symbols," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

Previously, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. This shifted recently, when an incident between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The event occurred shortly after a decision to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and an agent used irritant at a protester, targeting the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

The protester, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, saying it tasted like "something milder". But the incident spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that embrace the ridiculous – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and the city, which argued the use of troops overstepped authority.

While the court ruled that month that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The order was stopped legally soon after, and troops are said to have left the city.

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a significant symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was seen in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was backordered on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Optics

What connects both frogs together – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that calls attention to your ideas without needing explicitly stating them. This is the goofy costume used, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He authored a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

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

As activists confront the state, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences