🔗 Share this article

This protest movement may not be broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

Whilst rallies opposing the administration continue in American cities, participants are utilizing the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, while armed law enforcement look on.

Blending comedy and political action – an approach social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of American protest in this period, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It began after recordings of a confrontation between an individual in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to protests throughout the United States.

"A great deal at play with that humble inflatable frog," states LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on political performance.

From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's hard to talk about protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by online communities during a previous presidential campaign.

When this image gained popularity online, people used it to convey specific feelings. Later, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, including one notable meme retweeted by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users traded "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a shared phrase.

But its beginnings were not so controversial.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

This character debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. A film, which chronicles the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he said his drawing was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to the nascent social web, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that we don't control imagery," says Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme meant that frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. A transformation occurred in early October, when a confrontation between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

This incident came just days after an order to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to congregate outside a facility, just outside of an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an agent sprayed a chemical agent at the individual, directing it into the air intake fan of the costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, saying it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for Portland, famous for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that revel in the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which contended the deployment was illegal.

While the court ruled that month that the president had the right to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits when expressing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber opined. "However, this ruling is not merely absurd."

The order was halted by courts subsequently, and troops are said to have left the area.

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

The costume was spotted across the country at No Kings protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in small towns and big international cities abroad.

This item was backordered on major websites, and rose in price.

Shaping the Visual Story

The link between the two amphibian symbols – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a message without needing directly articulating them. This is the unusual prop used, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

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

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, he explains.

As protesters confront a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences