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The resistance won't be televised, but it could have amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations against the leadership carry on in American cities, participants are utilizing the vibe of a community costume parade. They have taught salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, while armed law enforcement look on.

Mixing levity and political action – an approach social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of US demonstrations in the current era, embraced by both left and right.

A specific icon has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It began after video footage of a confrontation between a man in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to rallies across the country.

"A great deal happening with that small inflatable frog," notes LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in performance art.

From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It is difficult to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by online communities during a political race.

As the meme initially spread online, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Subsequently, it was utilized to express backing for a political figure, even one notable meme retweeted by that figure himself, showing the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Participants traded "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

But Pepe didn't start out as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in his comic world.

The frog debuted in an online comic in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he stated his drawing was inspired by his experiences with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, the creator sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over imagery," says Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

For a long time, the popularity of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. This shifted in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The moment came just days after an order to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to gather in droves at a specific location, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer deployed pepper spray at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the costume.

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

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that embrace the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume became part of in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

Although a judge decided in October that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, one judge dissented, mentioning the protesters' "propensity for using unusual attire while voicing dissent."

"It is easy to see the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge stated. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The action was halted by courts subsequently, and troops withdrew from the area.

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

The inflatable suit was spotted in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

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

Controlling the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that draws focus to a cause without obviously explaining them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

As activists confront the state, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences