  We investigate how well the shape parameterizations are applicable for
studying the giant dipole resonance (GDR) in nuclei, in the low temperature
and/or high spin regime. The shape fluctuations due to thermal effects in the
GDR observables are calculated using the actual free energies evaluated at
fixed spin and temperature. The results obtained are compared with Landau
theory calculations done by parameterizing the free energy. We exemplify that
the Landau theory could be inadequate where shell effects are dominating. This
discrepancy at low temperatures and high spins are well reflected in GDR
observables and hence insists on exact calculations in such cases.
