🔗 Share this article

The protest movement won't be televised, yet it might possess amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

As demonstrations opposing the government carry on in US cities, demonstrators are utilizing the energy of a local block party. They have taught salsa lessons, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, as armed law enforcement observe.

Combining comedy and politics – a tactic experts term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a hallmark of American protest in recent years, adopted by various groups.

A specific icon has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It originated when a video of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"A great deal happening with that little inflatable frog," notes an expert, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies creative activism.

From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's hard to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by online communities throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the meme first took off on the internet, its purpose was to convey specific feelings. Afterwards, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, including a particular image shared by the candidate himself, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users traded "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed an inside joke.

But the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for its co-option. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

Pepe debuted in comic strips in 2005 – non-political and best known for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his creation, he said his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of the internet, the creator sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own icons," says the professor. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

For a long time, the notoriety of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. But that changed in early October, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

The event came just days after a decision to send military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, just outside of a federal building.

Emotions ran high and a officer sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, targeting the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

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

The costume fit right in for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that revel in the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

Although the court ruled in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning the protesters' "propensity for using unusual attire while voicing opposition."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "Yet the outcome has serious implications."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and personnel withdrew from the area.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had become a potent anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests recently. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on major websites, and rose in price.

Shaping the Narrative

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" performance that calls attention to a cause without needing obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume you wear, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The theory of this approach is three-fold, he says.

When protesters confront the state, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences