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

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

As protests against the administration continue in US cities, demonstrators have embraced the vibe of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, as police look on.

Combining humour and politics – a tactic social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of American protest in this period, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It originated after a video of a confrontation between a protester in an inflatable frog and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, went viral. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations across the country.

"There's a lot happening with that little inflatable frog," notes LM Bogad, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies performance art.

From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by extremist movements throughout an election cycle.

Initially, when this image first took off online, people used it to signal specific feelings. Later, its use evolved to endorse a candidate, even one notable meme endorsed by the candidate personally, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives exchanged "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed an inside joke.

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

Its creator, the illustrator, has been vocal about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

Pepe first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he stated his drawing came from his experiences with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that we don't control symbols," says Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

Previously, the popularity of this meme resulted in frogs were predominantly linked to the right. But that changed in early October, when an incident between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident came just days after an order to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to congregate on a single block, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and an agent deployed a chemical agent at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, stating it tasted like "something milder". However, the video went viral.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, famous for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that embrace the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which argued the deployment was unlawful.

Although the court ruled in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing dissent."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge stated. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The action was halted by courts just a month later, and troops have reportedly departed the area.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had become a powerful symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume was seen nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was backordered on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Visual Story

The link between both frogs together – is the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" act that calls attention to your ideas without explicitly stating them. It's the unusual prop used, or the meme you share.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

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

As activists take on authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences