How Right-Wing Icon to Anti-ICE Emblem: This Remarkable Evolution of the Amphibian

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

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

As protests against the government continue in American cities, protesters are utilizing the spirit of a local block party. They've provided salsa lessons, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, as officers look on.

Mixing levity and politics – an approach social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by various groups.

A specific icon has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It started after recordings of an encounter between an individual in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to protests across the country.

"A great deal at play with that little frog costume," notes LM Bogad, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on performance art.

From Pepe to Portland

It's hard to talk about protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by far-right groups during an election cycle.

As the character gained popularity on the internet, it was used to convey specific feelings. Afterwards, it was utilized to endorse a candidate, including one notable meme endorsed by the candidate personally, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed a shared phrase.

However Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has been vocal about his disapproval for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in his series.

Pepe first appeared in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he explained his drawing was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with uploading his work to the nascent social web, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that creators cannot own icons," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

Until recently, the notoriety of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. A transformation occurred in early October, when an incident between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

The event followed a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to congregate outside a facility, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and a officer deployed irritant at the individual, aiming directly into the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, remarking it tasted like "something milder". However, the video became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

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

While the court ruled in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," she stated. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

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

However, by that time, the frog had transformed into a powerful anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was spotted nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in small towns and big international cities abroad.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Optics

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that calls attention to a message without obviously explaining them. This is the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He authored a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

The theory of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

When activists take on a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences