🔗 Share this article

The revolution may not be televised, yet it might possess amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

Whilst protests opposing the administration carry on in American cities, protesters are utilizing the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered dance instruction, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, as police observe.

Mixing levity and politics – a tactic researchers term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a defining feature of American protest in this period, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It began after a video of a clash between a protester in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to protests nationwide.

"There's a lot going on with that humble blow-up amphibian," states LM Bogad, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies creative activism.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by extremist movements throughout an election cycle.

When the meme first took off on the internet, people used it to convey specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, including a particular image retweeted by that figure himself, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users traded "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

But the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his unhappiness for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

This character first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he said the character was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that creators cannot own symbols," says the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

Previously, the notoriety of this meme resulted in frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. This shifted in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

This incident followed an order to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, near a federal building.

Tensions were high and a officer sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, targeting the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The protester, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, saying it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for the city, famous for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which contended the use of troops overstepped authority.

Although a ruling was issued that month that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," she opined. "However, this ruling is not merely absurd."

The order was stopped legally subsequently, and troops have reportedly departed the area.

Yet already, the frog had transformed into a powerful protest icon for the left.

This symbol appeared in many cities at No Kings protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was backordered on major websites, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Narrative

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" display that highlights your ideas without needing explicitly stating them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a book on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The idea of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

When protesters take on authority, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences