From Far-Right Icon to Resistance Icon: This Unexpected Transformation of the Frog

The resistance may not be broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

Whilst rallies against the government continue in American cities, participants have embraced the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They have taught dance instruction, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, as officers look on.

Mixing levity and politics – a tactic researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of American protest in the current era, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It started when video footage of a confrontation between a man in a frog suit and federal officers in the city of Portland, spread online. And it has since spread to protests throughout the United States.

"There is much at play with that little frog costume," says LM Bogad, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

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

When the meme initially spread online, its purpose was to signal specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to endorse a political figure, even a particular image retweeted by the candidate himself, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Users traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a shared phrase.

Yet its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his unhappiness for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in his series.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his creation, he stated the character was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It proves the lack of control over icons," states Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme resulted in frogs became a symbol for the right. A transformation occurred in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

This incident occurred shortly after a decision to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to gather in droves on a single block, near an ICE office.

The situation was tense and a officer sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, aiming directly into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

The individual, the man in the costume, quipped, saying he had tasted "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 – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which argued the use of troops was illegal.

While a judge decided in October that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion the protesters' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits when expressing dissent."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," she opined. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The order was stopped legally subsequently, and personnel withdrew from the area.

Yet already, the frog was now a potent protest icon for progressive movements.

The costume was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests recently. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

The inflatable suit was sold out on online retailers, and rose in price.

Controlling the Optics

What connects both frogs together – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that calls attention to your ideas without obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The idea of such tactics is multi-faceted, he says.

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